The Nation Newspaper

Tag: DELSU

  • Oborevwori pledges more support for DELSU as 6,401 graduate

    Oborevwori pledges more support for DELSU as 6,401 graduate

    Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has promised to double the support of the State Government towards the infrastructural growth and development of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.

    The Governor made the pledge at the 17th convocation ceremony of the university where a total of 6,401 students graduated on Saturday.

    The university also bestowed honorary degrees on Chief Broderick Uvieoghene Arigbodi, Professor Tanure Ojaide and High Chief Eta Enahoro for their accomplishments and contributions to society.

    Oborevwori called on all stakeholders to collaborate with the state government to meet the needs of the University.

    “The state government would double its efforts to continually support. We will continue to tackle the recurrent issue of infrastructural gaps with the available resources.

    “There is need for stakeholders to collaborate with the government to meet the needs of the University,” Oborevwori stated.

    The Governor commended the university for the giant strides it has been making in the academia, stating, “DELSU has continued to provide quality education to our citizens, this is evident in its improved ranking.” 

    He also applauded the new Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Asagba, for the construction works undertaken and completed within four months of his assumption of office.

    Oborevwori also charged the graduating students to become global changers, adding “whatever problems we see in the world today are opportunities for growth. Keep learning, graduation does not mean the end of learning. Never give up on your dreams. Life is full of twist and turns, troubles and trials. Whatever happens, keep pressing.”

    The VC said inadequate funding and shortage of workforce topped challenges of the University.

    Disclosing the number of graduands, he said a total of 4,706 students bagged first degrees.

    Read Also: Atiku hits PDP leaders as Oborevwori defection unsettles party

    The VC listed some achievements of his administration to include construction of road from Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences to Faculty of Arts; ongoing construction of Faculty of Agriculture, which used to be at the Asaba campus of the University, construction of 500 capacity lecture theatre, Faculty of Arts, Site III (on-going); construction of a block of five classrooms and offices for among others.

    He emphasised the institution’s commitment to exposing students to academic education of international standards, citing the new ranking of the University and swift accreditation of programmes by the National Universities Commission.

    Highlight of the event was the announcement of immediate employment for overall best graduating student, Okwa, Favour Oghenemine who graduated from the Department of Mathematics with a 4.95 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), by the Governor. 

  • Four years of Professor Egwunyenga at DELSU

    Four years of Professor Egwunyenga at DELSU

    • By Ben Nwanne

    Four years in the saddle as the Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, (DELSU), Professor Andy Egwunyenga has amply demonstrated to be a confluence for justice, hard work, propriety, discipline and due process.  His initial pledge to redress genuine cases of injustice still resonates with the University till this day.

    On his first working day in office, Monday, December 2, as the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor among others, he made a clarion call through a special edition of the DELSU Bulletin to the academic community to “unite as a community of scholars and administrators to collectively lift up Delta State University.” “In that momentous ice breaking communication, the new Vice-Chancellor declared.”  I solemnly pledge to lead, inspire and advance the repositioning of Delta State University to emerge as the best State University in Nigeria.  To realize this vision, we have a lot of work to do!” 

    In the past 48 months, Professor Egwunyenga has irrevocably been committed to the transformation of the University in different spheres, using his six-point agenda of building an effective and motivated work force, pursuit of innovation using ICT, strengthening faculties, departments and units, emphasis on the welfare of students, improvement of the revenue base and applying a new approach to University administration has provided a road map for the people-centered administration to post massive achievements, despite its lean resources.

    Indeed, appreciating the people-factor early in his administration has been a success factor as no leader can do everything all by himself.  He therefore embarked on bringing back to the fold those who had been frustrated and alienated from the system, due to various forms of injustice meted out to them.  He provided an explanation in a recent Lead Interview published in the DELSU News of April 2022.  “We have affected the lives of staff who were depressed by the grievances of either victimization or injustice or things that happened against management of people,” he said.  “So we have healed wounds, we have united staff and we have attempted to get everybody on board.”

    If we were to borrow from the discipline of advertising, it is reasonable to state that the ‘unique selling point’ of the Professor Egwunyenga administration is his anchor on people, the ‘ant mentality’ which leverages on the power of a group to achieve its aims and objectives.  “I think that the vision that I came with and the mission to advance the position of the University has, in fact, been taken over by staff without pushing or forcing them to do what is required,” he declared in the same edition of the same magazine.

    Professor Egwunyenga’s power of persuasion, credibility, and get-things-done disposition has worked wonderfully for him.  He is not an arm-chair administrator who dreads the scorching sun!  On the contrary, he is always out there in the field to see things for him, making observations, suggestions and where necessary, giving instructions and directives and insisting that they are carried out.  He always goes for on-the-spot assessments of projects.  Some of the many projects he has delivered included beautification, renovation and landscaping of Site II and Site III Main Entrance gates, ongoing construction and furnishing of offices and lecture theatres for the Department of Nursing, Abraka, Faculty of Pharmacy Complex, Construction of Educational Technology Laboratory, on-going maintenance project of the 1000 capacity and 750 (A, B and C) lecture  halls in Abraka and also the very huge edifice of Faculty of Management Sciences, funded from internally generated revenue.  Other projects, funded by TETFUND and Delta State Government, are nearing completion as the University helmsman has assured that all would be delivered before leaving office on November 30, 2024.

    Read Also: DELSU rusticates 500L medical student, 46 others

    One of the bold steps taken by the administration was the conversion of non-teaching staff to academic staff.  It instantly became a source of motivation for many who had worked hard to improve their academic qualifications with the hope of joining the academia.  It was a win-win for the parties involved as it addressed, in a creative and realistic manner, the high under-staffing among the academic staff. The strengthening of academic staff definitely has a salutary effect on staff –student ratio which is abysmally poor in Nigeria.  It is thought also to increase the University’s citations as more academics are involved in research, thereby improving the University’s rankings which have been on the upswing in the past four years.

    Indeed, DELSU under Professor Egwunyenga administration has made tremendous progress in this regard.  Addressing a Press Conference in April 2023 during the last Convocation, Professor Egwunyenga informed the audience, thus:“In the latest global ranking of Universities by Alper –Doger Scientific Index, Delta State University was ranked as the 27th best University in Nigeria among the over 200 Universities in the country and the 4th best among State Government-owned Universities.  Further analysis of the ranking showed the University to the best State University in the South-South and South Eastern parts of Nigeria.

    “Furthermore, another highly recognized global Universities ranking body, Webometrics, in their own latest rankings, placed the University as 194th out of 2087 Universities in Africa and 24th out of over 200 universities in Nigeria, based on verified Google Scholar citations.  According to the ranking, Delta State University recorded 56,443 citations, beating some highly rated Universities in United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Turkey, Portugal, Canada and some other more advanced Countries.  This again is consistent with the Alper-Doger Scientific Index ranking that earlier placed the University as the 27th best in the Country.” This is not particularly surprising, given the expansion of academic programmes as over 87 programmes including Medicine and Surgery with an increase to 120 admission quota, have been given full accreditation status by the National Universities Commission

    The Professor of Parasitology and Public Health is leaving no stone unturned in developing DELSU, growing the population from about 19,000 to over 35,000 and giving all segments of the University community a sense of belonging.  The women folk have particularly benefited from his broad-mindedness which has seen a phenomenal growth of women at the commending height of the administration, rising from just one woman among the seven Principal Officers of the University to a whooping four!  His argument for gender balance is excitingly persuasive.  “Any society that does not harness the potentials of women is operating less than 50 percent capacity.  By so doing, you have removed the other half, which is a kind of discrimination.  It is wrong to look down on any one because of gender.”

    In fact, in order to properly internalize and domesticate the ideals of gender balancing, the University is strengthening its Directorate of Gender and Development Studies which recently held a successful seminar for Directors of Gender Studies in Nigerian Universities.  Also put in place are several policies to educate and inform the University Community on the proper and acceptable manner of conduct in different areas of human endeavours and also to reduce human subjectivity in interpreting issues.  To this end, the University has, in the period under review, ‘enacted’ the gender policy,   sexual harassment policy, plagiarism policy, safety policy, copyright policy and research and innovation policy.

    According to the good book – the Bible- no one should  light a candle and put it under the bed, hence the activities of the Professor Egwunyenga administration have been in the public domain, with encouraging reactions.  It is amazing that his credibility rating from the very first day in office has to this day remained encouragingly high.  As Editor-in-chief of DELSU News, this writer had commented on his performance and the inflow of awards and recognitions for the University and its chief executive officer in these words:  “Given the transparency, high standard in scholarship, prudence and adherence to due process by the Professor Egwunyenga leadership, many persons in the country, and outside, are watching and applauding.  Within the past 18 months awards, commendations and honourable mention have come the way of the Professor of Parasitology and Public Health”.  It is germane to mention a few of such awards to include: PAN African Prize for Excellence, Global Hope and Justice Award of Excellence, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigeria Universities (AVCNU) Award of Recognition for Contribution to Development of the Eaglespan Plagiarism detection software, Award of Excellence as one of the 10 Most Outstanding Vice-Chancellors in Nigeria by Vanguard Press, Environmental sustainability Award by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, DELSU Branch and recently, the Grand Patron of Student’s Union of Delta State University, Abraka.  The new President of the Students Union, Mr. Mathias Jimson, in a recent interview praised the Vice-Chancellor for “his diplomatic nature and his willingness to engage with the Union peacefully.”                                                  

    • Professor  Nwanne is Director, Ceremonials, Information and Public Relations, (CIPR) Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
  • DELSU rusticates 500L medical student, 46 others

    DELSU rusticates 500L medical student, 46 others

    N O fewer than 47 students of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka have been rusticated for two academic semesters over alleged examination malpractice.

     This was contained in an official bulletin of the university.

     According to the bulletin, the rustication was contained in the report of malpractice cases for the first semester of 2022/2023 academic session for regular students.

     The students were rusticated over alleged impersonation, being in possession of mobile phone and materials relevant to the courses being examined, and giving false information in a bid to evade justice, among others.

     Among those sent home was a 500 Level student of Medicine and Surgery, Emelereta Destiny Oghenefejiro, who was accused of “being in possession of a phone in the examination hall and copying from the phone during the MBBS resit examination”.

    Read Also: Senate promises better procurement experience 

     The rustications are for two semesters with effect from the first semester of the 2022/2023 academic sessions.

     The publication stated that “all examinations written within the period of penalty be cancelled“ and the affected students are to “resume studies with effect from the first semester of the 2023/2024 academic session”.

     The report also showed that three other students of the university were placed on indefinite suspension from studies because they “refused to appear before the panel”.

     However, four students also arraigned before the panel were found not liable for their alleged offences and were discharged and acquitted.

  • DELSU inducts medical doctors

    DELTA State University (DELSU) College of Health Sciences in Abraka, has inducted 39 graduates of Medicine and Surgery in a ceremony attended by high profile individuals and medical practitioners.

    The induction, which held in the school’s 750-capacity hall, saw the graduates take the Hippocratic Oath.

    The oath taking was anchored by the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr T.A.B. Sanusi, who took the inductees through the code and conducts of the medical profession.

    DELSU Vice Chancellor Prof Victor Peretomode, who was represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor, (Administration) Prof. S.O Asagba advised the inductees to discharge their duties in accordance with the ethics of the profession. He assured parents and guests that the inductees have been given the best form of training.

    Similarly, the Provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof Lawrence Omo-Aghoja, admonished them to be of good conduct. He also thanked their parents for supporting them through the training. Omo-Aghoja said the latest teaching aids in the College of Medical Sciences and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital have continued to put the university’s medical graduates among the best both within and outside the country.

    Dr Odokudu  God-dowell emerged the best graduating student. In his valedictory speech, God-dowell thanked Delta State government for providing an enabling environment for their training. He also thanked their teachers and parents for their relentless support all through the medical school. He promised that the inductees would always abide by the tenets of the profession.

  • Ex-CAMPUSLIFE reporter dies weeks to PhD award

    A former CAMPUSLIFE correspondent at the Delta State University (DELSU), Philip Okorodudu Ogaga, is dead. He died days after he was discharged from hospital, where he was treated for a heart-related disease.

    He was 32.

    Before his death on Sunday, the deceased was a doctoral student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he finished his Master’s degree. The late Philip, it was gathered, died a few weeks to the completion of his PhD.

    He belonged to the second-generation of CAMPUSLIFE writers. He started writing for the campus-focused platform in 2011. The late Philip, who was fondly called “Prof”, won several awards for his works, which brought positive developments to DELSU and its host community.

    Some of his peers have described his death as “tragic” and a “big blow”, wondering why the “promising young man” could not have access to quality healthcare.

    Femi Ogunjobi, Philip’s contemporary, said he was yet to recover from the pain brought by his death. Describing Philip as “soft-spoken and brilliant”, Femi said: “He was a guy whose lifestyle would inspire you and make you humble. He was simple and ready to be a friend to everyone. Beyond his writing prowess, he was a brilliant engineering student, who finished on top of his class. We will surely miss him.”

    Head of CAMPUSLIFE Desk, Wale Ajetunmobi, described the late Philip as “the brightest star in the galaxy”, saying the deceased was one of those, who made his task rewarding when he took over the leadership of the desk, following the death of the pioneer Editor, the late Ngozi Agbo (née Nwozor) in May 2012.

    In a tribute to the deceased, who hailed from Urohbo clan of Delta State, Jennifer Umeh, former CAMPUSLIFE correspondent at Federal Polytechnic, Offa (OFFA POLY), Kwara State, wrote: “I still find it hard to believe you are no more. Philip, why did you go unannounced? May your soul rest in the bossom of the Lord.”

    His classmate at DELSU, Ms Eduvie Erivwode, wrote: “I am in pain after learning about your death, Philip. You were too good, so calm, so humble and ready to help. Rest in peace.”

    The late Philip was 32.

  • ASUU rejects introduction of duty register by DELSU

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka branch, has rejected the “clock-in and clock-out” policy recently introduced for academic staff by the authorities of the institution.

    The union, in an August 10, 2018 letter to the state’s Commissioner for Higher Education, described the policy as non- academic, unprecedented and a deviation from best-practices in the global academic community.

    It said:  “There is no university in the country and possibly the world where academics clock-in and clock-out.

    “The policy will only make mockery of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, and the entire state, before the national and global university community.”

    It noted that university lecturers are involved in teaching, research, and community development, hence members of ASUU – DELSU would continue to discharge their responsibilities with regards to these obligations.

    The union said the policy was a threat to the globally cherished non-negotiable autonomy of the university, which the union would continue to defend.

    It advised the state Governor and visitor to the university to see those behind the policy as saboteurs who did not wish him well.

    The letter was signed by the branch chairman and secretary, Prof. Abel Diakparomre and Dr. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri, respectively.

     

  • DELSU final year student commits suicide

    A final year student of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, identified as Orumah Efemena, has reportedly committed suicide. The deceased, who was said to have suffered bouts of depression in recent times, reportedly took his own life on Wednesday, after drinking poisonous liquid substance suspected to be an insecticide, after learning that he would be staying another academic session in the institution.

    The Nation gathered that Orumah did poorly in his final examinations and would have to stay an extra year for the second time, having suffered a similar fate in the previous academic year. Although no authority was able to officially confirm the incident, some students from his department; Pharmacy Department, who spoke under anonymous conditions, confirmed the development, saying the deceased became depressed after realising his imminent fate. According to some of the sources, the deceased was found dead in his hostel room.

    They said two cans of a dangerous insecticide, which had been linked to a couple of suicide cases recently were found in his room. He was said to have been rushed to the university health centre where he was pronounced dead. A lecturer of the institution who also confirmed the incident said medical report indicates that the student took substances believed to be an insecticide. Another student who simply identified herself as Amaka, said: “He was in class the day he died and looked very happy and exchanged jokes with his course mates. Some of his friends were even with him at home but after they left, he drank sniper and died.

    ” When contacted, DELSU’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Freeborn Aganbi, confirmed the incident, adding that security report indicated that the deceased had, had to repeat the same year twice, a situation that could have inflicted frustration on him. “This is why staying off campus isn’t advisable. If he had been staying on campus, there’s the possibility that one or two friends could be around him to talk him away from his frustration and eventually from taking his own life,” Aganbi said.

  • Kidnapped DELSU lecturer, another rescued

    Kidnapped DELSU lecturer, another rescued

    A lecturer in the Department of Theatre Arts, Faculty of Arts, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Dr Boniface Anyanwu, as well as the son of one of his colleagues, Nnamdi Nwachukwu, who were kidnapped in Obiaruku, Delta state, over the weekend, have been rescued.

    The duo was kidnapped midnight Saturday by yet to be identified gunmen, who had demanded N20 million ransom for both men. They were whisked away from Dr Anyanwu’s Obiaruku home.

    The Nation gathered that freedom came for the duo at about 3:00pm on Monday when an unnamed local hunter walked into the bush where they had been kept, chained down by their kidnappers, who could not be sighted around when they were located.

    The hunter reportedly raised the alarm on sighting the two bound persons and sought the help of members of the vigilance group in the area who eventually rescued the victims.

    It, however could not be ascertained, as at the time of filing this report, whether families and colleagues of the victims had bowed to the kidnappers’ pressure for ransom before they were abandoned in the bush.

    Meanwhile, efforts to get details and official response from the state’s police command were unsuccessful as the spokesman of the command, Andrew Aniamaka (DSP), could not provide information. He could not pick a call put across to him, but sent text message to say he was in a meeting.

    It would be recalled that Dr Anyanwu was kidnapped along with Mr Nwachukwu, son of Professor Augustine Nwachukwu, who was in the Anyanwu home at the time of the attack.

    Besides making away with two laptops, phones, money and other valuables, the hoodlums, 24 hours later opened contact with wife of Dr Anyanwu, demanding N10 million ransom for each of the abducted persons.

    There were fears over the health of Dr Anyanwu, was said to be asthmatic and was taken away without any of his medications by the kidnappers.

  • DELSU honours 100-year-old monarch, Onobrakpeya, Edozien

    DELSU honours 100-year-old monarch, Onobrakpeya, Edozien

    Delta State University, Abraka, has honoured the Founder/President, Bruce Onobrakpeya Foundation (BOF), Prof Bruce Onobrakpeya, with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) of Arts in appreciation of his contributions to the growth of arts.

    The award was presented during the 11th Convocation of the university.

    Other recipients conferred with honorary doctorate degrees were the Asagba of Asaba Prof Joseph Edozien (who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power), and the Ohworode of Olomu, Ovie Richard Layegun Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro 1, who turned 100 this year.

    In appreciation of the honour, the centenarian instituted a life-time endowment fund of N5 million for the best graduating students in Urhobo Language and Education.

    Governor Ifeanayi Okowa, who is the Visitor to the university, urged the varsity to give automatic employment to the best overall graduating student, Joshua Aghogho of Mass Communication Department, as well as sponsorship of his post-graduate study.  The governor also donated N1 million to the student-artist that produced his portrait that was presented to him at the ceremony.

    Responding on behalf of the recipients, Onobrakpeya, who was delighted with the honour given to them by the university, said the conferment was a classic example of prophets being honoured at home.

    “What is happening is a classic example of prophets being honoured at home. That this honour is coming from the Delta State University, Abraka, means so much to the three of us. And what else can we say but to express our appreciation and get inspired to do more for humanity even at our old age?

    “We are all grateful to God Almighty who has made all things well. God has endowed us and we have within that limit impacted on humanity. We are grateful to the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who is the Visitor to this great university for approving the university’s Senate and Council recommendation that the honorary doctorate degree of this university should be conferred on us,” he said.

    Onobrakpeya also expressed gratitude to the university Senate and Governing Council for finding the recipients worthy of the honour, noting that words were inadequate to quantify how ‘the receipient felt about the recognition.’

    Onobrakpeya said: “We have this day joined the great tradition of the league of alumni of the Delta State University, Abraka. We, therefore, owe it a responsibility to be good ambassadors of this great university and also join in the quest of making it a great centre of learning, not just in Nigeria and Africa, but in the world.’’

    The convocation, which coincided with the university’s 25th anniversary, was held at the varsity new auditorium and was attended by traditional rulers and chiefs from the state, representatives of Vice Chancellors of universities, such as Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State and Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, among others.

    Other guests at the ceremony included the Pro Chancellor of the university, Prof Sam Oyovbaire and literary icon Prof JP Clark.

  • DELSU ignores Fed Govt, charges N5, 000 for post-UTME screening

    Contrary to Federal Government’s policy, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has announced its readiness to conduct “computer-based aptitude tests” in place of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    Besides, the university is charging each candidate N5, 000, in addition to N1, 000 bank commission, bringing the total cost to N6, 000 against the maximum N2, 500 allowed by the government’s order for the screening.

    In an official bulletin dated June 13, the institution directed candidates to visit its admission portal to “generate a virtual pin with N5, 000’’.

    Candidates were directed to make the payment at Ecobank, Unity Bank, Zenith Bank, UBA or Fidelity Bank.

    According to it, the payment is for centre-screening and covers honoraria for centre-facilitation, logistics for producing screening materials and security.

    Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in a statement on June 28, 2016, warned tertiary institutions against charging candidates for post-UTME screening.

    The warning followed reports that some institutions had ignored the earlier abolition of post-UTME test and devised other means to screen students with certain fees imposed on them.

    “Any screening which tertiary institutions choose to conduct should only be for the purpose of verification of certificates of the candidates, JAMB scores, and any other physical examination to ensure that such candidates are not cultists.

    “After this, the candidates are qualified for matriculation. Such screening should be at no cost to the parents or students and should be done upon resumption in order to avoid unnecessary travels in search of admission,” Adamu said.

    The Registrar of DELSU, Mr Daniel Urhibo, confirmed the authenticity of the school’s bulletin and defended the N5, 000 screening charge per candidate.

    “It is aptitude test. We are not setting another kind of examination for them the way JAMB sets for them, and it is going to be computer-based,’’ Urhibo said.

    Asked to differentiate the “computer-based aptitude test’’ from the post-UTME test abolished by the government, he told NAN that the Federal Government did not scrap post-UTME test.

    “It is the same agency of the government that said `you can select your students.’

    “Twenty-six thousand candidates applied to DELSU; how do you select, may be 5,000 or 6,000? There must be some kind of uniform test to assess them.

    “Last year, we asked them to submit their secondary school results and we graded them. Do you know that people claiming to have `A’s in their results could not write their names?

    “Some of them had forged results. We went to the internet and discovered that somebody who claimed to have scored 300 in UTME had just 120.

    “So, if you use that type you won’t get the best; that is why there is some kind of a little aptitude test for them,’’ he said.

    Urhibo explained that the N5, 000 charge was needed to conduct the exercise as the university was not in good financial position to bear the cost.

    “We need materials to do this test; we will pay the people who are going to administer the test and those who will mark it.

    “We need money to service our computers and to develop the software for the test. So, from where do you expect us to get the money to do these?’’

    The minister of education or spokesman of the ministry could not be reached for reaction to this in spite of several attempts in more than two weeks.

    However, a top official of the ministry, who craved anonymity, said what the university was trying to do was illegal. The National Universities Commission (NUC), tasked with enforcement of the abolition of the post-UTME test and screening charges, was also not forthcoming on the matter.

    Its Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, neither answered several calls to his mobile telephone nor replied NAN enquiry sent to him via SMS and Whatsapp.

    The commission’s spokesman, Mr Ibrahim Yakasai, also did not respond when contacted through the three channels.