BY IFEANYI UWAGWU
The Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered the revocation of the long-abandoned Senate Building project at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, which has been left unattended for 22 years.
Governor Oborevwori gave the directive during his remarks at the 17th convocation ceremony of the university held, yesterday, in Abraka.
He noted that the renovation would enable the state government to re-award the project to a competent contractor to ensure its swift completion.
This directive was in response to a request by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Samuel Asagba, who appealed for the completion of the Senate Building, abandoned for over two decades.
Governor Oborevwori subsequently directed the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Nyerhovwo Tonukari to ensure the immediate revocation and re-award of the contract for prompt execution.
In keeping with the university’s tradition, Governor Oborevwori also approved automatic employment for the overall best-graduating student, Okwa Favour Oghenemine, a Mathematics graduate from the Faculty of Science who achieved a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.95.
The Governor congratulated the graduating students for being found worthy in learning and character and praised the University’s Governing Council and Management for the impressive growth recorded by the institution over the years.
Earlier, upon arrival, the Governor inaugurated a newly constructed One-kilometre road linking the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences to the Faculty of Arts and commended the University’s leadership for the various projects executed within a short period.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of DELSU, General Alexander Ogomudia (rtd), expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for his consistent support to the university. He also called on donor agencies and philanthropic individuals to contribute to the infrastructural development of the institution.
General Ogomudia further appealed to the state government to fast-track the completion of all ongoing and abandoned projects and reminded the graduates of their responsibility to be worthy ambassadors of the university in their future endeavours.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Samuel Asagba announced that a total of 6,401 students graduated from the 2023/2024 academic session. This figure includes 830 postgraduate degrees: 154 Doctor of Philosophy degrees, 438 Master’s degrees, and 238 Postgraduate Diplomas.
He noted that the university had attained 100 per cent accreditation for all its academic programmes and was recently ranked 20th among over 300 universities in Nigeria and third among state-owned universities, by the global SciVal Ranking tool of Elsevier.
Prof Asagba commended Governor Oborevwori for his unwavering commitment to the growth and development of the institution, highlighting that several key projects had been completed since his assumption of office as the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
Delivering the valedictory speech, Okwa Oghenemine thanked God for the grandaunts’ success and expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Management, and staff of the University for instituting the Students’ Work and Scholarship Schemes, which provided critical support for indigent students to sustain their academic pursuits.
