A delegation from the Dar Es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), Tanzania on Wednesday, began a three-day working visit to the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra as part of efforts to deepen their collaborative efforts geared towards improving upon maritime education within the country.
Led by the Rector, DMI, Dr Tumaini S. Gurumo, the team met with the Ag. Vice Chancellor of the RMU, Dr Jethro W. Brooks Jr. and other management members of the RMU to initiate collaborative discussions which would be climaxed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) on Friday.
The delegation upon arrival, were welcomed with a symbolic Guard of Honour by the RMU Cadet Corp, before meeting with the RMU management team to begin the deliberations.
In his welcome address, Dr Brooks Jr. said they were pleased to receive the delegation from Tanzania (East Africa), to ultimately express and show exactly in practical terms, the need to collaborate with fellow institution or country.
“This is an important step because it shows that Africans can work together not only on the senior administrative or Presidential level but on the technical level where technicians at the educational institutions can also collaborate and share knowledge for the common good of our countries,” he stated.
“We hope your three days would be rewarding and engaging as you are permitted to interact with other management members for more insight,” he added.
He said,the fact that the two institutions intended to combine forces in terms of students and faculty exchange and programme collaborations was an indication that Africans could work together.
He recalled that, discussions towards the visit and collaboration started seven months ago and delighted that it had become a reality.
On her part, the Rector DMI, Dr Gurumo said they were looking forward to collaborating in a meaningful manner that would foster growth between two African countries.
“This is the first institution in Africa we entering into an MOU with since we started in 1978 and certain that it would be fruitful to show that Africans can move together and achieve results,” she stated.
“We want to see Africa grow through its own resources and this would be part of the collaborations to ensure that we develop within,” she stressed.
“We look forward to discussions that are fruitful for the growth of the institutions and the maritime industry in Africa as a whole,” she added.
There was also a presentation by the RMU Provost, Dr Denis Atehnijia Njumo on the structure, mission and vision, courses and programmes,projects and other relevant units of the RMU.
The two institutions exchanged gifts with the delegation also touring the facilities of the RMU, hoping to replicate the state-of-the-art infrastructure to improve upon maritime education in their country.
Other members of the DMI delegation were, Head of Legal Unit, Adv. Veronica Ndahani Sudayi, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Rector-Academic Research and Consultancy Dr Wilfred Johnson Kileo, Senior Instructor C/Eng. Deism Danford Mlay and Crew Agency Officer Capt. Hamis Omari Kikupuzo.
The RMU management had the Registrar Dr Baboucarr Njie and the Director of Finance Mrs Akua Danoa Asare Adei, Head of Public Relations, Mrs Sika Atipoe and other staff.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
