The Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) has announced plans to launch maritime studies programmes in preparation for the anticipated Ondo deep seaport, positioning the institution to tap into Nigeria’s emerging blue economy.

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the university’s 9th convocation ceremony, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Temi Ologunorisa highlighted the growing opportunities in the country’s maritime sector as the impetus for the initiative. He disclosed that 1,452 students are expected to graduate, including 50 first-class honorees, with Agboola Isaiah, from Electrical Engineering, emerging as the best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.90.

“The convocation is special for two reasons,” Ologunorisa said. “It is the last one I will preside over, and for the first time, we are graduating a PhD student in mathematics, marking our move into research beyond our traditional undergraduate focus.”

The proposed maritime programmes will include port management, maritime transport and logistics, and maritime economics and finance, in collaboration with Caribbean Maritime University, Jamaica. The convocation lecture will be delivered by Prof. Andrew Spencer of Caribbean Maritime University, on the theme: “Strategies for Developing a Blue Economy in Nigeria: Lessons from the Caribbean.”

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted OAUSTECH’s remarkable growth under his administration: student enrollment rose from 5,000 to 12,000 in five years, and the number of faculties expanded from three to seven, including Management Sciences, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, Geology and Geophysics, and Computing.

“We have maintained a stable academic calendar, ensuring timely graduations and prompt release of results. This has boosted the university’s reputation and increased public confidence, reflected in the surge in enrollment,” he added.

Ologunorisa affirmed that the university is strategically positioning itself as a hub for maritime education, ensuring graduates are equipped to meet the demands of Nigeria’s growing maritime economy.