The Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Simon Ortuanya, has unveiled five new programs for the Institute of Maritime Studies to widen opportunities for students.
Ortuanya announced the programs during a two-day workshop with the theme ‘Retraining the Trainers: Fostering a Culture of Academic Excellence,’ organised by the institute in Enugu.
Represented by Prof. Robinson Ugwoke, the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, UNEC, Ortuanya said the new programs were approved to address global changes in maritime education. He explained that maritime studies remained relatively new at the university, noting that institutions aspiring for global relevance must integrate maritime education into their curriculum.
According to him, exposing students to the discipline would, if mastered, reduce unemployment by equipping graduates with the relevant skills demanded in maritime-related fields.
“One sure way to tap into the global economy and boost Nigeria’s growth is through maritime education,” he said.
He noted that the workshop would help both students and PhD holders remain updated on modern research, teaching, and publication practices.
Ortuanya urged participants to engage actively, stressing that speakers were carefully selected to deliver thought-provoking papers relevant to the workshop theme.
He added that the workshop reflected his administration’s focus on ensuring academic excellence and positioning the university for global competitiveness.
In her welcome address, the Institute’s Director, Prof. Florence Orabueze, said the workshop was designed to promote continuous professional development among academic staff.
She stressed that in a fast-evolving global educational landscape, relevance depended on the ability to adapt, innovate, and lead.
“In the maritime sector, where technologies and practices advance rapidly, staying updated with cutting-edge knowledge and skills is not optional but imperative,” Orabueze said.
She added that the Institute prioritised teaching quality, productivity, and academic integrity while expanding its curriculum to provide broad-based opportunities.
According to her, the new programmes, recently approved by the College of Postgraduate Studies, range from certification to PhD levels in Maritime Blue Economy.
They include Maritime Disaster Risk Management, Maritime Economics and Trade, Marine Ocean Engineering, and Maritime Cruise, Tourism, Health and Hospitality Management.
Before the approval, Orabueze noted, the Institute had only four programmes at PGD and MSc levels since its establishment in 2015.
These included Maritime Business Management, Maritime Business and International Logistics, Maritime Law, Regulations and Policy, and Maritime Telecommunications.
Delivering a lecture titled ‘Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Academic Research: Tools, Techniques and Best Practices’, Dr Timothy Araoye stressed the importance of understanding AI concepts, ethics, and applications.
Araoye, from UNN’s Department of Mechatronics Engineering, added that AI could help solve maritime problems such as forecasting and detecting ship accidents.
