By Elohor Foghola
The Confederation of Delta State Oil Producing Ethnic Nationalities Students Union (CODSOPENSU) has endorsed the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, for a second term in office, citing his administration’s significant investment in education, youth development and student welfare.
The endorsement was made today March 5, 2026, during a visit by the student body to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), where the leadership of the union commended the governor’s interventions in the education sector and the revitalization of student support programmes.
Speaking during the reception, the Managing Director of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor, who was represented by the Executive Director of Social Services, Chief Favour Ozuokomor at DESOPADEC, welcomed the students and described their visit as a historic gesture.
According to him, DESOPADEC was created as an interventionist agency to address the developmental challenges of oil-producing communities in Delta State and has continued to make significant impacts across the six ethnic nationalities within its mandate area.
He likened the students’ visit to the biblical story of the ten lepers healed by Jesus, noting that only one returned to express gratitude.
“Today is historic. Like the biblical story where one out of ten lepers returned to appreciate the goodness of the Lord, the students from our mandate area have come back to acknowledge the impact of this commission. We sincerely appreciate this gesture,” he said.
He added that the commission has, since its inception, carried out interventions that have positively affected students and communities across the region.
He assured the visiting delegation that their message of appreciation and endorsement would be communicated to the governor and reiterated the board’s commitment to prioritizing youth and student-focused initiatives.
Also, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, DESOPADEC, Chief Oghenekome Okpobor, commended the students for their organized approach and urged them to maintain proper communication channels with the commission.
He advised the student leaders to always present their concerns through formal correspondence to enable the commission address issues effectively.
Okpobor also urged students across the state to participate actively in the coming elections by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
He said peaceful engagement and civic participation were essential for sustaining development and ensuring responsive governance.
He added that the management remains committed to engaging constructively with the student community and responding to their needs as part of its broader mandate to improve the welfare of people in oil-producing areas of Delta State.
Earlier the students, led by the Chairman of CODSOPENSU, comrade Onajite Freedom Onagba representing the six ethnic nationality of oil producing communities, presented an address commending the governor for what they described as “unprecedented educational reforms” and transformative leadership.
The students particularly applauded the governor’s intervention in the DESOPADEC bursary scheme, which had previously been suspended.
They noted that the administration not only restored the scheme but also approved an increase in the bursary allowance from N30,000 to N50,000 for students from oil-producing communities.
The group also commended the government for the consistent payment of the Delta State Bursary to over 33,000 eligible students in 2025, which includes children of deceased civil servants, students living with disabilities, and law school students.
They further praised the governor for ongoing infrastructure development within the education sector, including the commissioning of new faculty complexes at the University of Delta and upgrades at other tertiary institutions across the state.
The union also pointed to the establishment of new technical and nursing institutions, as well as the DESOPADEC Skill Academy, which provides vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities for youths from oil-producing communities.
Beyond education, the union acknowledged the administration’s infrastructural projects across the state, including several flyovers and drainage systems aimed at addressing flooding challenges.
Based on these achievements, CODSOPENSU formally endorsed Governor Oborevwori for a second term in office, expressing confidence that continuity would consolidate ongoing development programmes.
However, the union also appealed to the state government and the DESOPADEC board to ensure the timely payment of the 2026 bursary and expand the number of beneficiaries to accommodate more students from oil-producing communities.
