In a remarkable show of regional cooperation, the Regional Maritime University (RMU) in Accra has witnessed a significant upgrade to its infrastructure, thanks to generous contributions from member states Sierra Leone and Liberia.
At the heart of the new developments are a 50-bed capacity hostel sponsored by Liberia and a state-of-the-art video conferencing facility funded by Sierra Leone—both designed to improve student accommodation and enhance digital learning as part of RMU’s broader vision to become a leading hub for maritime education in West and Central Africa.
The unveiling of the projects coincided with the 33rd Board of Governors Meeting of RMU, during which several other new facilities were inaugurated, including a mosque, desktop steering simulators, a boat laboratory, and a GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) laboratory.
Chancellor of the RMU, Alhaji Fanday Turay, praised the two sponsoring nations for their sustained commitment to the growth of the institution, calling the contributions “a symbol of meaningful, intra-African collaboration.”
“This is the kind of healthy competition we encourage,” Turay said during the ceremony. “Let us challenge each other to do more for this university. The collective commitment of our member states is what fuels RMU’s success.”
Sierra Leone’s support for the digital learning infrastructure is expected to significantly enhance RMU’s capacity to deliver hybrid training, connecting students and experts across continents. Liberia’s investment in student housing addresses a longstanding accommodation challenge on campus.
Representing The Gambia, Mr. Ebrima Sillah, Minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure, highlighted his country’s previous investment in a 54-bedroom student hostel, completed in 2017. He reaffirmed The Gambia’s ongoing support for the institution and called on other member countries to deepen their engagement.
“These developments underscore the importance of infrastructure in academic excellence,” Sillah stated. “They are not just investments in buildings but in the future of maritime leadership across Africa.”
The Ministers and Board members present echoed a unified call to elevate RMU into a world-class maritime training centre that reflects Africa’s potential and ambition. They emphasized the need for continued partnerships to ensure the university remains academically rigorous, financially stable, and structurally sound.
The newly commissioned projects are not only tangible improvements for RMU’s students and faculty but also a strong message that West Africa is capable of building and sustaining institutions of excellence through unity and purposeful investment.
