The lawmaker representing the good people of Ogun Waterside State Constituency in the Ogun State House of Assembly (OGHA), Hon Lawal Samusideen on Saturday 18th May, 2024, facilitated the foundation laying ceremony of Western Coast Maritime Academy (WECMA), a private institution of higher learning, in Makun Omi, a coastal town in Ogun Waterside local government area of Ogun State.
The ground breaking event of the foundation laying of the institution which took place at the permanent site on a large expanse of hectares of land along Atijere road in Makun Omi, had in attendance the royal father Oba Kazeem Adesina Salami , the Osobia of Makun-Omi, other royal fathers from the neighboring communities, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, the representative of Commissioner for Environment in the state, captains of industry, the Founder/CEO of Western Coast Maritime Academy, Captain Ogunyemi, the Rector of the institute; Dr Akande Kazeem Babatunde, Community Development Associations representative in Ogun Waterside LG, and host of others.
The epoch making event unarguably has put Hon Lawal on the good book of history in the annals of governance and representation in the local government area.
Kabiyesi Oba Osobia of Makun-Omi who was overwhelmed with joy showered encomiums, praises and prayers on Hon Lawal Samusideen. The royal father was full of praises for witnessing one of the developmental projects in his domain within the short period of five years of attaining the throne of his fore-fathers.
Kabiyesi thanked the lawmaker for facilitating the laudable project, saying that he did not regret giving Hon Lawal a royal blessing and support during his electioneering in the last general election that produced the latter.
Adding that the good people of Ogun Waterside State Constituency had chosen well, and there was no regret for voting Hon Lawal to be their representative in the hallowed chamber of the State Assembly.
The royal father was optimistic that developmental projects of the lawmaker would touch all nook and cranny of the local government area.
Western Coast Maritime Academy has its headquarters at Badagry in Lagos State, which has produced many graduates into the labour market, and they are as well making the institution proud across the length and breadth of the country and in the diaspora.
The management of the institution has set up a 3years plan to complete the project. Dr Eminue E.J, a director in the institution highlighted numerous opportunities abound in training a child at Maritime Academy. Saying further that a graduate of Maritime Academy could turn the fortune of a whole family and community to better. He commended President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Blue Economy.
According to Dr Eminue, tapping and harnessing the full potentials in blue economy could turn the fortune of internally generated revenue of Ogun Waterside LG Area in particular and Ogun State by extension.
The founder of the institution Captain Ogunyemi in his speech appealed to Ogun State government to create enabling environment for the project to come to stay by rendering a helping hand in all ramifications. Adding that the people of Ogun Waterside LG Area are lucky to have the institution in their domain.
Makun Omi, the host community is a coastal town that shares boundary with the Atlantic Ocean, which is one of the rationales for establing Western Coast Maritime Academy in the area.
Hon Lawal in his remarks, promised to liase with his honourable colleagues in the State Assembly and executive arms of Ogun State government to make the establishment and completion of the project a reality.
Western Coast Maritime Academy (WECMA) runs academic programmes that deals with Maritime related courses, and awards National Diploma (ND)as well as Professional Certificates in Maritime careers. It is a federal government approved institution.
Without mincing words, the establishment of the institution could also serve as a catalyst for the establishment of a deep sea port in the area in the nearest future, which would in return boost the economic prosperity of the coastal community, the local government area and Ogun State at large..
