Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Tuesday, said the state had become the hub of tertiary education in Nigeria with four public universities and other higher institutions of learning owned and funded by the state government.
Speaking during the inspection of projects at the Southern Delta University, Ozoro and Orerokpe campuses, Governor Oborevwori commended the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Oboreh, for investing the university’s internally -generated revenue (IGR) into the building of more projects in the university.
According to him, “Delta State is the hub of education in Nigeria; we are the only state that has four public universities and, by the grace of God, more will come to Delta State.
“This particular building initially was for the Management Sciences but later it was converted to Medical Sciences; outside this structure is another structure behind which would take the laboratory, the mortuary and other facilities, including some lecture halls.
“There are other lecture halls in the main building, too; so, this is a full structure; when it’s completed, it will be able to house the medical school and we are very happy that the project is going on very well.
“The good news about this school is that the National Universities Commission, NUC, has also confirmed the change of name from the Delta State University of Science and Technology to Southern Delta University and that will enable them get more courses.
He stressed, “I know that very soon they will also approve Law and other courses in this university; so, I am very happy with the work.”
Governor Oborevwori challenged other universities in the state to invest their IGR to improve their infrastructure.
“I am very proud of what the university is doing by investing its IGR to build some structures here; as we were coming, you saw those two-storey buildings on the other side.
“It is the university that is building them from their IGR and I like what the school is doing; they are not depending on only what the state is providing for them.
“I challenge other universities to also use their IGR to develop their schools because if they depend on only what the state government will provide, we cannot grow.
“But when they use their IGR and with what we are giving to them, subventions and structures, that will strengthen the school and we also make them improve very well; so, I am very happy with what is going on here.”
On why universities in the state do not join their counterparts across the country on nationwide strikes, Governor Oborevwori said the state government “takes good care of the university staff, hence they have no reason to join the national strike”.
His words; “we are giving them their subventions; all the requests they have made, we granted them. They are well paid and we are giving them facilities and all that; so, why would they strike?
“We know the value of education and we want our people to go to school, because when they are educated, they will not be involved in criminality.
“Idleness causes a lot of things. So, I believe in effective education because it is the source of one’s life. You may acquire everything on this earth but without education, you are nothing. So, education is very key and that is why I take it very seriously.”
Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Jacob Oboreh, expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori on the progress made so far in the university, particularly in the campus.
He said the Orerokpe campus would house the Faculty of Administration, Social Sciences, and Arts, adding that the Faculty of Law would be introduced in due course.
Oboreh added, “I am very satisfied with what is on ground; I am only appealing strongly to the contractor to increase the speed of work on this campus.
“Because it’s our intention to move students here by September and we are talking about moving in about 3,000 students. So, my major appeal is that the contractor should accelerate the speed of work.
“He has done much compared to when I came here last. He is doing very well and what is here meets NUC specification; I have no doubt about that. With one or two facilities added, we are done. In fact, what I have seen in some other universities, which are main campuses, they are not even as much as what we have here.
“So, I must commend the Governor for this wonderful job he has done within this short time.”
