Maritime University launches homecoming event

The Regional Maritime University (RMU) on Wednesday launched its maiden alumni homecoming and fundraising event in Accra.

The homecoming event, on the theme: “Promoting the Contributions of RMU towards Maritime Education and Training in the Sub-region,” begins from Monday, September 28; to coincide with the International Maritime Day, to Sunday, October 4.

Professor Elvis Nyarko, the Vice Chancellor of RMU, at a press conference said “Alumni are the heart of every university. And so during my installation as Vice Chancellor on June 6, 2015, I indicated that alumni relations will be a top priority in my administration.

“Our alumni, our strength will be our tagline to signify the critically important role the alumni will play in advancing the university’s vision and mission.”

He said alumni are an institution’s most loyal supporters, fundraising prospects and generate invaluable word-of-mouth marketing among their social and professional networks.

“An institution can benefit from their skills and experience. They are great role models for current students as they are often well placed to offer practical support to students as they start their careers,” Prof Nyarko said.

He said this was the reason RMU’s Management had taken a decision to properly position their alumni to play its invaluable role and also contribute its quota towards the university’s progress.

The Vice Chancellor said since 1958, RMU had trained many prominent seafarers who were working all over the globe.

“It must be placed on record also that RMU was the first Maritime Educational Institution in Africa to produce women Master Mariners and even one of them, Captain Beatrice Vormawor, was one of the very first females to captain a ship,” he said.

According to him the homecoming was, therefore, being used to recognise their illustrious alumni and to also make a passionate appeal to them for support in areas such as constant career counseling to help students and award of scholarships and bursaries to deserving students.

Others are equipping students and staff libraries, funding of projects and research works through grants and linking of their faculties/departments/university with international agencies for material and financial assistance.

He pointed out that the event kick-started with courtesy calls on stakeholders such as former President J. A. Kufuor, during whose tenure RMU was upgraded from a diploma awarding institution to a degree awarding one.

He however, explained that Management was still looking forwarding to paying a courtesy call on former President J. J. Rawlings.

Other prominent institutions RMU Management paid courtesy calls on are the Ghana Maritme Authority, Seaweld Engineering, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ghana Navy, Petroleum Commission and Dangote Cement Limited, with the aim of forging collaborations and creating awareness of the historic homecoming and fundraising event.

Activities lined up for the week-long event include: World Maritime Day Celebration, Full Parade of Cadets, Commissioning of Oil and gas facility, Departmental and Photo Exhibition, Job Fair and visit to campus by junior high schools students on Monday, September 28.

On Tuesday, September 29, Rear Admiral G. M. Biekro, Chief Naval Staff will deliver a public lecture on the topic “The Spate of piracy and armed robbery at sea and its impact on the Maritime Industry: The Role of Maritime Educational Institutions”.

Wednesday, September 30, will be Alumni Day, during which there will be games and sports, interaction with current students, and open forum with the Vice Chancellor and Management among other activities.