Tourism stakeholders have condoled the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi and the entire community over the recent boat accident involving the Nigerian Medical Students Association, NiMSA.
The boat accident, which occurred last weekend in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria, claimed the lives of three students comprising two males and one female.
READ ALSO: Boat Mishap: Cross River Police recovers remains of 3 Students
Led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Development, Pastor Eme Affiah to the office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, the stakeholders described the news of the accident and demise of the three students as shocking and devastating.
According to Mrs. Affiah, the entire tourism sector was in mourning due to the death of the three students.
She described their death as “painful and a blow to the people of Cross River State, which is noted for her hospitality. We commiserate with you and the university community.
“This is the first time something like this is happening. It is indeed sad and we pray God grant the students, their families and all of us the fortitude to bear the loss. May we never witness this kind of incident again.“ Affiah prayed.
Responding, Professor Florence Obi expressed appreciation to the tourism stakeholders for commiserating with the university community over what she described as “Devastating.”
Obi regretted that the medical students, who were in Calabar since on Thursday last week for their Annual Medical Students Week could drown while on an adventure, saying as a mother, she was distraught.
She stated, “I wish you had come for something else. But however, it is really sad and very unfortunate that this has happened. We wish it never happened. We had to receive the remains of the three students and made arrangements to get their parents involved.
“But, all the same I think it is a very sad thing for all of us as a people and even for the state government. Our state is branded and known for tourism. For this to happen is so awful indeed.
“These children were excited to be in Calabar. They were coming to Calabar for the first time and wanted to experience the Marina Resort. The boat cruise was not part of our arrangements at all. But, those young ones when they got to Marina Resort, they just felt like adventuring into taking a boat ride,” she recalled.
The Vice Chancellor, however, commended the Nigerian Navy, local divers and the police for recovering the remains of the three students lost at sea and urged the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Development to ensure such accident and any similar incident never happened “Going forward.”
PIAK
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