DELSU Rallies Stakeholders For Security

By Ben Nwanne & NAD Aboribo

Against the backdrop of rising insecurity in the country, the Delta State University, Abraka, has taken concrete steps to bring to the fore the issue of improving security in the University and its immediate environment.

In order to enhance the security situation on campus, the University constituted the DELSU Security and Road Safety Committee (SRSC) to provide workable solutions to the observed problems of poor security and unhealthy attitude towards road safety issues in the University Community.

The Committee under the chairmanship of Professor Rosemary Okoh, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), took critical steps on Thursday, March 31, 2022, when it organized its Maiden Awareness Workshop at the University’s 1st 750 Lecture Hall with the theme ‘SECURITY AND SAFETY: THE CONCERNS’ for stakeholders, who include staff and students of Delta State University, Landlords in Abraka motorcycle and Tricycle (keke) riders, Motor drivers, Market men and women, Hoteliers and others in Abraka and other parts of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Welcoming guests to the Workshop, Professor Rosemary Okoh, commended the visionary Vice-Chancellor of Delta State University, Prof. Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga for the worthy initiative ‘’…where town and gown commune to build peace, safety and security in our immediate environment…’’.

She observed that insecurity in communities in Nigeria had become very rife; noting regrettably that DELSU staff and students at different times in the past three years had experienced kidnapping or outright loss of life.

She outlined the different causes of insecurity and accidents to include ignorance on how to live a secured life, ignorance of road signs and traffic rules, careless driving or riding, drunk driving, lack of value for life among others.

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In his keynote address entitled: DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY AND HOST COMMUNITIES: RETHINKING OUR COLLECTIVE SECURITY, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, regretted that ‘’…the security and safety of lives have recently become threatened. The sources of threats are in various forms ranging from accidents, ritual killings, kidnappings for ransom and banditry among others. The dimensions of these social vices pose enormous threats to the educational system…’’.

Speaking further at the well attended event, Professor Egwunyenga noted that security and safety issues had been heightened on campus and in Abraka town at large as a result of increase in cultism, recreational drugs, alcohol abuse and reckless driving.

He recalled that it was the spate of insecurity and road accidents in Abraka and its environs which led to loss of lives of students that motivated him to constitute the DELSU Security and Road Safety Committee (SRSC) on the 4th of August, 2021. Professor Egwunyenga, who is giving DELSU an enlightened and committed leadership, explained that the gathering was aimed at raising awareness, formulating policies and perfecting strategies towards ensuring safety and security in the environment.

While lauding the efforts of the vigilante groups in ameliorating the poor security situation in Delta State, the University helmsman emphasized that ‘’…if DELSU must grow to the sublime height I contemplate, we must put in place measures to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff in collaboration with the entire communities around us…’’.

Resource persons at the Workshop who provided information and knowledge to the participants include Mr. Charles Muka, the Delta State University Security Consultant, who presented a paper on ‘Peculiarities of Security and Safety in Abraka and its Environs’; Mr. Cletus Ibete of the Federal Road Safety Corps, who spoke on ‘Road Signs and Traffic Regulations for Drivers, Commercial Drivers/Riders and Pedestrians’; Delta State Commissioner of Police, Ari Mohammed Ali, represented by his Deputy, DCP Sunday Oke, who spoke on ‘Cybercrimes:

Consequences on Perpetrators and the Public’ and Dr. Mrs. Rachael Misan-Rupee, a Teacher and great Alumna of Delta State University, Abraka, who delivered a paper on ‘Staying Safe and Secure in a Seemingly Insecure Environment’.

A drama presentation on ‘Dangers of Reckless living/ Riding/Driving’ by students from the Department of Theatre Arts of Delta State University, Abraka, summarized the whole event and passed the desired message to the audience.

Need we say the Workshop was well packaged and delivered? Congratulations Delta State University!