You Merit The Position, Umiaghwa-Abraka Monarch Tells New DELSU VC

–Says Abraka Does Not Look Like A Community That Is Host To A University

By Daniel Dafe

The Ovie of Umiaghwa Abraka Kingdom, HRM AVM Ararile Lucky Ararile (rtd.), Awaeke I, has described the new Vice Chancellor (VC) of Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, “as a very serious academician”, adding that he merits the position.

The traditional ruler who made these remarks when the management team of DELSU led by the VC paid him a courtesy visit, added: “I have done a background check on the VC and I am convinced that because of his professional attitude to his job that is why we did not notice any of the usual intrigues and maneuverings that occur during selection processes for a new VC in DELSU.”

He continued: “I think you merited it and that is what we want were round pegs are placed in round holes in the institution.

“Your job is a tough assignment especially with the nature of our campuses and with what I have seen within Nigeria. The issues of cultism, kidnapping, sexual harassment and sex-for-grades are rampant. You have a lot of work to do. Our universities have to be places of learning and character building. I don’t think we are doing that and if we are doing it, I don’t think we are achieving much.”

Furthermore, he said: “In the area of infrastructure, sadly, why the campus is a little better, the univesity is not contributing to the environment of the host community. Because of a lack of infrastructure, our communities do not look like a host community of a university. I know that is beyond you, but working together we can make presentations to government.

“Unlike other host communities to tertiary institutions, Abraka has not interfered with the affairs of the university,” adding that the gains of the community from the university is not much.

He said: “I have been under pressure to react to certain issues. There are areas that I thought the university should have assisted the community with like when we had issues with PRESCO. There was a document I requested from the university management that would have helped us in our court case with PRESCO. But sadly, Peretomode did not provide it and it is a sad commentary.”

Speaking further, he urged the new VC to be determined to make the institution the number one state university in the country, as he called on all staff to support the new VC to accomplish this task and others he wants to achieve.