Dennis Osadebey University: Construction Works Confirm Okowa’s Pledge

By Frank Oshanugor & Charles Nwabardi

The rate at which construction of new lecture halls, office complex, hostel blocks are going on at the newly established Dennis Osadebey University, Anwai-Asaba, may be an indication that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is keeping his words towards early commencement of academic programmes in the school.

When AtlanticNewsonline team visited the campus on Tuesday, builders were seen at various construction sites in different parts of the school which initially began some decades ago as a College of Agriculture before it became a campus of Delta State University, Abraka about ten years ago.

In February, 2021 Delta State Government had announced the upgrading of the campus to a full fledged University with an enabling law as Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba. The announcement was made same time the College of Education was also upgraded as University of Delta with Ozoro Polytechnic becoming Delta State University of Science and Technology.

After the Bills establishing the three Universities were signed into law by Governor Okowa a few months ago, he had assured that the three schools would commence academic programmes in the 2021/22 session even though Dennis Osadebey University may not commence with many Faculties.

Though there have been some structures on ground before it became established as Dennis Osadebey University, yet they were not befitting enough as greater parts were structures inherited from the old College of Agriculture which were more of farm settlement until it became campus of Delta State University.

With its upgrade now as Dennis Osadebey University and release of the approved take off grants by the Okowa administration, the ongoing construction works clearly indicate that the school is on its way to becoming a university to reckon with, in the next few months if the structures are faithfully completed on schedule.

A visit to academic registry revealed that the University management was working hard to meet up with the Governor’s expectation of early commencement of academic programmes at the institution.

A publication indicating that the University has invited admission seekers desirous of applying for placement as first year students in the institution has been trending in the social media since first week of September, 2021.

The publication listed eight Faculties with over 60 courses to be offered across the faculties. The publication went further to specify cut off marks for different Faculties. The authors of the publication advised prospective students to contact management of the University for further information even as some online fraudsters have cashed in, on the publication to act as admission agents thereby scamming overzealous admission seekers.

Enquiry from the University’s registry by AtlanticNewsonline team on Tuesday revealed that the publication was fake in its entirety. Though management of the school is currently working hard towards admission of pioneer students of the new University any time soon, yet it has not finalized on issues of Faculties and courses that would come on stream for a start.

According to an official of the University Registry who pleaded anonymity, some parents of admission seekers have called at different times to confirm the authenticity of the publication and they have been given the right information which is the fact that no publication has officially been made with respect to admission of new students and available courses.