University Of Delta Takes A Pride Of Place As VC Stella Chiemeke Exhibits Pragmatic Leadership

By Frank Oshanugor

A recent visit to the three campuses of the University of Delta (UNIDEL )Agbor which was established in 2021 through legislative means was quite revealing of the fact that what a man can do, some women can do much better.

It is fast becoming more evident that now is the time to give Nigerian women the opportunity to occupy more positions in our governance space because the sterling qualities of many of them, attest to the fact that Nigeria can be better if women are given chance to be in charge of our nation’s leadership since the men have largely failed us, politically speaking.

It is no exaggeration to say that the University of Delta, Agbor is quite fast in ascending the ladder of progressiveness in many spheres far more than many older federal and state universities. This is made possible by the UNIDEL pioneer Vice Chancellor who assumed office soon after the establishment of the university which began with no fewer than five faculties.

Academically, in 2024 under Prof. Chiemeke ‘s leadership, the University achieved a significant milestone by receiving from the National Universities Commission (NUC), a massive accreditation of 69 courses out of 72 courses. Two more courses have recently been accredited thereby bringing the total to 71.

These courses cut across faculties and UNIDEL currently has no fewer than nine faculties. The faculties include Education, Engineering, Law, Arts, Social Science, Computing, Environmental, Management Science, Agricultural Science, Basic Medical Sciences etc.

Similarly, the rate of infrastructural development going on, in the three campuses located at Agbor (main campus) ,Owa-Oyibo and Owa-Alero remains a testimony that management of the university is quite focused as any new project is speedily executed. Construction work is diligently going on, on a proposed massive auditorium which would be another centre of attraction when completed.

The different office blocks, lecture halls, sports complex, information communication and technology centre and others are built to global standard with no inferior or substandard materials on display. None of the project is abandoned halfway like one could find in some other universities.

A tour of the newly completed massive faculty building at Owa Oyibo campus by this reporter clearly reveals the thoroughness in both the architectural and construction aspects of the one story building which has two quadrangles, lecture halls, offices etc. The site makes a compelling gesture for some one to be honoured.

Whoever is the contractor handling the project deserves some commendation for delivering a world class building on a University campus that many never believed would come to stay. Kudos to the Vice Chancellor Prof. Stella Chiemeke for showing pragmatic leadership in terms of ensuring that projects are completed and delivered on time according to specification.

Kudos also to those having oversight functions on the various projects both from Delta State House of Assembly and House of Representatives. Apart from funding by the Delta State Government, the federal government also through TETFUND plays some funding role as one could observe from the inscription on some buildings in one of the campuses. It was gathered that some members of the House of Representatives were recently at UNIDEL on oversight visit to assess the state of things. The university management reportedly got some commendation for the state of infrastructural development in the school.

Little wonder why Stella Chiemeke, Nigeria’s second female Professor of Computer Science recently bagged an Outstanding Leadership Award in Education for pioneering a transformative education in Africa. The award was presented to her at the 3rd African Education Summit held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

I could recall when I did my first story three years ago about the university, how a fellow journalist based in Lagos (like me) almost took me to the slab for daring to praise Delta former Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa who made the university to take off on a good note. My colleague had described the school as a glorified secondary school even though he had never set his foot in Agbor or any of the campuses. Interestingly, I could recall telling him politely that his ignorance was forgiven for taking what I called ignoble position on what he knew little or nothing about since he had never visited the University. I jokingly called him an “arm-chair” journalist for refusing to leave his comfort zone and go out to see things for himself.

With what I have personally seen during my one day tour of the school last Friday as a journalist, I dare to assert that University of Delta, Agbor is fast taking a pride of place in the comity of universities in Nigeria. Hopefully, the story would be complete by the time the first set of graduates of the University assemble for their convocation tentatively fixed for November, 2025. By then final results of the graduating students who would begin their examinations in less than two weeks from now, must have been compiled and released.

With the seriousness of the Vice Chancellor, lecturers and other staff members of the university towards achieving excellence in academics just like in infrastructural development, the first set of the university’s graduates would surely make Prof. Chiemeke proud as her labour would not be in vain. The best is what I wish the students.