Unical to collaborate with Maritime Academy

>>Authorities of the University of Calabar, Cross River State, have urged the Nigerian Navy to collaborate with the institution on maritime studies. The UNICAL Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu, made the appeal when he led a delegation to the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command in Calabar on Monday. The Flag Officer Commanding, ENC, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, received the delegation. According to him, such collaboration in terms of knowledge and experience will help the university and the Navy to exploit the enormous advantages in the maritime sector. Akpagu also sought the cooperation of the force in checking hoodlums that had taken advantage of the porous water boundary of the institution to perpetuate criminal activities on campus. He said, “We want to woo the command to collaborate with the institution in the area of Marine Studies. The university already has an Institute of Oceanography and it is strategically located within the coastal area. “Such collaboration will help the university and the command to exploit the enormous advantages of marine economy and this will be profitable through the knowledge and wealth of experience of each partner in achieving this objective. “UNICAL is already collaborating with the Cape Peninsula University in South Africa. There is the need to collaborate with the Eastern Naval Command to achieve its objective. As federal institutions, both the university and Eastern Naval Command must work together to foster growth and harmony for an enduring economy. “The security threat from kidnappers who recently came in through the Qua River to kidnap three persons residing in the staff quarters and encroachment on the university land by host communities are the recent threats which have left the management with much to be desired. “We are therefore appealing to the Navy through the FOC to step up their marine patrol team. We have equally informed other security agencies of the menace.” Responding, Oluwole said the Navy was already in talks with the Cyprus University for the establishment of a Naval University of Science, Arts and Marine Studies in order to actualise the dream of intellectual leap in the marine economy.