By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
Prof. Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, today, at the school 30th Anniversary and convocation ceremony, says that he made a point earlier that every university was a work in progress and that DELSU was no exception.
In his Convocation ceremony speech, the VC noted that, DELSU has its challenges which every university has had to contend with, but he was convinced that they were surmountable. Noting that the school facilities: classrooms, laboratories, workshops, halls of residence and offices need expansion and upgrading.
Egwunyenga disclosed that despite government’s commendable efforts, there was need to engage more academic staff and there was a compelling need for power and energy infrastructures to enable DELSU maximize the infinite opportunities inherent in ICT.
According to the VC “the foregoing challenges are tied to funding. I must admit that the Delta State Government has acquitted itself in funding the University in view of the multiple responsibilities it owes different strata and sectors of development in the State. However, a university is a cost intensive project that is perpetually playing Oliver Twist in order to realize its great aspirations and those of the society. The University is the incubator for national development and as such it demands a lot of funding to cope and deliver on its many mandates”.
While commending Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s magnanimity in developing DELSU and same time appealing for increase in funding, Egwunyenga said “It is based on the foregoing that I appeal to the State Government for increase in funding. The Government of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, has been magnanimous in funding our university and this has reflected in the overwhelming number of academic programmes fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
“However, since our university is evolving, we crave the indulgence of our Visitor for increase in funding. This will certainly leapfrog the development of our university”.
He said that there were ongoing projects that still require the attention of the State Government which includes the Administration Building, the abandoned Sports Complex and the Faculty of Science Complex that are waiting for attention and completion. It has also become expedient for the University to have an international conference centre in view of its coming of age.
Egwunyenga added that DELSU was in dire need of more accommodation for students and staff. The movement of the Faculties of Agriculture and Management Sciences to Abraka necessitates the construction of new halls of residence for students and blocks of flats for staff. This will go a long way in repositioning our university in achieving its vision and mission.
