The Maritime University based in Okerenkoko, Delta State has now commenced operations, and has invited applications to fill academic staff vacancies.

Minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani announced this on Saturday.

He also announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a significant increase of the take-off grant from N2 billion to N5 billion.

Already, the grant has been included in the 2018 budget presented to the National Assembly earlier this week, under the Federal Ministry of Education allocation, superseding the previous provision of N2 billion.

The presidential approval for the N5 billion budget allocation was based on the recommendation of a committee in the Ministry of Education tasked with the activation of the university.

Besides, President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved an immediate release of N1 billion to the university to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment.

“This release is separate from the N5 billion allocated in the 2018 budget submitted to the National Assembly,” Usani said.

The university authorities have already commenced the process of hiring staff with advert placements published in The Punch, Vanguard, and SundsySun newspapers, blogs and other online outlets.

The University wants to hire professors, readers, senior lecturers, lecturers, assistant lecturers and graduate assistants to teach in the faculties of Science, Maritime Transportation, Maritime Engineering and Technology, Maritime Environmental Management and General Studies.

The new university is part of the New Vision for the Niger Delta, which followed the President’s meeting with PANDEF leaders last November.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was delegated to undertake a tour of the oil producing communities and the issue of the take-off of the Maritime University was one of the major requests tabled before the Federal Government. (NAN)