Agbor Stands Still As University Of Delta Holds Maiden Convocation, Produces 30 First Class Graduates

By Frank Oshanugor

In a rare celebration of success, no fewer than 20 Vice Chancellors of different Nigerian universities joined their colleague, Prof. Stella Chiemeke of the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor to mark the first convocation ceremony of the University on Saturday. The event took place at the institution’s mini stadium in the main campus, Agbor.

The well attended colourful event which attracted the presence of Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dennis Emomotimi Guwor and many other dignitaries came as one event that would not be forgotten in a hurry as 30 out of the 1606 graduates made First Class with the Best Graduating Student, Uzoma Victoria Ifunanya receiving an instant cash gift of N5million from the governor.

The University community and environs witnessed unprecedented presence of parents, friends, well wishers and other guests who came from within and outside Delta State to rejoice with students and management of the five year old institution which currently has a student population of 17,000 in its three campuses located in Agbor, Owa Oyibo and Owa Alero.

While announcing the award of Bachelor’s degrees to the graduating students across various departments, Prof. Chiemeke said the students were the successful ones found worthy in character and learning among the pioneer students of the University admitted five years ago.

Speaking about the progress of the school, she noted that it was the great interest shown in education by Delta State government that has helped the University to grow rapidly. For this, she expressed gratitude to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa particularly for infrastructural development and regular payment of staff salaries.

The Vice Chancellor also paid tribute to the host community citing the traditional rulers and others as very good and peace loving people who were always willing to support the institution.

In the same vein, Chiemeke also commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) which has been accessible to no fewer than 4000 indigent students of the university.

She disclosed that in spite of UNIDEL ‘s relative young age, all the courses currently offered by the school have been accredited by the National Universities Commission – NUC. The visibly excited Chiemeke while commending the graduating students for their commitment to studies, remarked that such achievement was

a product of the commitment of both the academic and non academic staff of the school. She also attributed the progress to the quick-response approach to students’ welfare needs in the three campuses of the University.

The Vice Chancellor announced that the fast growing UNIDEL is already an institution to reckon with, in the comity of other universities as it has been ranked high by some global bodies.

With respect to the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Chiemeke said the University has commenced studies in medicine with the aim of producing medical doctors. According to her, students of medicine are about in their third year and as the proposed University Teaching Hospital is still under construction, the students are currently having their clinicals at the Agbor General Hospital and Mother and Child Hospital. She therefore appealed to the governor to properly upgrade the two hospitals to officially serve as UNIDEL Teaching Hospital until the main Teaching Hospital is completed.

In response to the request, the governor said it was compulsory to do so, pledging to act accordingly, just as he promised to direct his Commissioner for Works to work out the modalities for building more hostels for the University. The governor announced a donation of brand new bus to convey medical students for their clinicals.

As the official Visitor to UNIDEL by virtue of his position as the State Governor, Oborevwori expressed his happiness saying that “today is historic not only for the University but for Delta in particular and Nigeria in general. Today’s event is more than the conferment of degrees but a celebration of a vision, moving from conception to construction.”

He thanked his predecessor, Dr. Okowa for his foresight and courage in establishing UNIDEL, Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba and Southern Delta University, Ozoro.

He recalled that soon after the establishment of the three universities, some critics had questioned the rationale behind it but today the story has changed as the three universities currently have a combined students population of about 40,000 with the various campuses growing rapidly.

“I wonder what would have been the faith of these students if the universities were not created. Now with these universities producing graduates in diverse fields, there is expansion in skilled manpower needed for entrepreneurship and wealth creation not only in Delta but anyway in the world.”

Former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa while appreciating the management of UNIDEL for deeming it fit to honour him and about 17 others at the occasion, he went down memory lane to recall how his administration established the University and two others at a time the current governor was the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

Okowa thanked his successor for ensuring that the schools were given adequate attention both in infrastructural development, academics, welfare and other essentials. Like Oborevwori had said, Okowa wondered where the 17,000 students currently at UNIDEL would have been if the University was not established five years ago. He added that Delta is a lucky State as it is the only state in Nigeria with four state universities (that are fast growing academically, infrastruchurally) and four federal universities.

Eighteen personalities who had contributed one way or the other towards the establishment and development of UNIDEL were honoured at the occasion by the

institution’s management. They included Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Rt. Hon. Dennis Emomotimi Guwor, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank, Obi of Agbor, His Royal Majesty Benjamin Keagborekuzi Ikenchukwu, Obi of Owa, His Royal Majesty Emmanuel Efeizomor and others.

The Vice Chancellors of universities who attended the ceremony came from Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Delta State University, Abraka, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, University of Benin, University of Port Harcourt,

Edo University, Iyanomo, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, River State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Abia State University, Uturu, Benson Idahosa University, Benin-City, Federal University of Medical Sciences, Kwale and others.

Among other dignitaries at the maiden convocation were Nigeria’s former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd), Amb. Godswill Echiejile, Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadi, Executive Secretary National Universities Commission and many others.

Apart from the N5million cash gift to the overall Best Graduating Student, the governor also gifted N500,000 to each of the remaining 29 First Class Graduates just as one Dr. Donald Peterson announced a post-graduate scholarship award up to PhD level for Miss Uzoma Victoria Ifunanya the Best Graduating Student in addition to N1million cash gift.

It was harvest of cash awards to Uzoma from other philanthropists including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stella Chiemeke who also gifted other First Class Graduates.