By Samuel Ogude &Clinton Awhawha
The Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa said education is bed rock for sustainable development of every society. Governor Okowa stated this today, Saturday at the 15th Convocation of 2021/2022 academic session of Delta State University, Abraka where a total of 4855 students comprising of 58 Doctor of philosophy, 339 Masters Degree, 596 Postgraduate Diplomas ,3843 First Degrees and 416 Diplomas were convocated for the day.
While congratulating the graduands for their successful completion of the academic course, he said, they were graduating for good as their graduation marked a change in their status and beginning in their lives.
According to him, as administrators, they understand the core importance of education not only in the life of the individuals but also the youths and nations’ building. Governor Okowa who was represented by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Delta State, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu said, education is capital intensive but remains the bed rock for sustainable development of every society. According to Governor Okowa, this gives reasons for the maintenance of the various schools ranging from the primary to secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.
He said:” Graduation marks a change in status and beginning in the lives of those graduating..education is capital intensive but remains the bed rock for sustainable development of very society.” According to him, the quest to make education available for all, the government decided to set up three other universities making a total of four universities in the state adding, despite of complaints in some quarters, they are products of studies carried out in the 2018 which showed that out of 22840 who were qualified for university admission, only 4000 were able to get admission leaving a total of 18, 000 persons that were qualified.
He added that, this informed the need to set up three other universities to salvage the situation where Deltans have to travel to as far as Niger Republic for education and pay exorbitant school fees which does not meet the standard of Nigeria. He said, the establishment of these additional universities has helped in no small measure in bringing education not only nearer to the people but cheaper than private universities.
The Governor thanked the Governing Council for their support which made it possible for school to have recorded these successes over the years, among others.
Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga said having known and worked in the institution for nearly thirty one years of its existence, he has witnessed a good portion of the developmental stages of the university’s evolution as, the institution has fared well in sciences, arts and social sciences.
He said:”Our university, over the years has developed from its pristine beginning through the twist and turns of growth.. our scholars have made us proud as they are able to compete with their colleagues both locally and internationally.”
While congratulating the graduands for their accomplishment of their academic laurels, he charged them to strive higher and continue to be good ambassadors of the institution.
He said:” I consider the convocation ceremony not only as final rite but also as beginning of another. Today’s graduands are graduating into endeavours that will open other new beginnings.”
Professor Egwunyenga, said, the university would continue to do its best in the turning out sound graduates who will contribute to the nation’s building and advance the course of humanity globally adding, the quantity and quality of graduates produced by the institution over the years attest to the school’s capacity to live up to the vision of the founding fathers.
According to the VC, the school has recorded lots of developments since he assumed the saddle of leadership saying, within the three and half years, he has been able, in addition to the modest achievements reported in his 2022’s Convocation address, to construct the Faculty of Management Science Complex, six classrooms for institution’s secondary school, completion of phase II of the main- gate to Entrepreneurship Centre Road with spurs at Faculty of Science and Faculty of Pharmacy, among others.
The VC said, despite these achievements, the institution is still faced with some challenges which include the need for the expansion of classrooms, laboratories, workshops, halls of residence and offices. He said, though government’s efforts are commendable in the achievements of the school, there is need to engage more academic and non- teaching staff just as he said, there is a compelling need for power and energy infrastructure to enable the school maximize the opportunities in ICT.
Professor Egwunyenga expressed thanks to the host community, the Senate, staff and students for their support, members of Governing Council and Management of the University for untiring efforts in moving the institutions to greater heights through quality policies enunciation, steadfastness and discipline.
He also thanked the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his efforts in ensuring that the school becomes of the best institutions in recent times. He therefore appealed to the state government to increase the funding of the university to enable it meet its challenges.
He said:”The Delta State University, Abraka has its challenges which every university has to contend with. …our facilities: classrooms, laboratories, workshops, halls of residence and offices need expansion and upgrading”.
The programme which was attended by personalities in the academic industry climaxed with the award of prizes to deserving students.