DELSU Inaugurates Committee For Scholarship Programme For Indigent Students

BY BEN NWANNE

In response to the deepening misery of indigent students at the Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), following the parlous state of the national economy, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andy Egwunyenga has inaugurated a seven-member Committee to devise ways and means of identifying deserving indigent but brilliant students for DELSU Indigent Students Scholarship Programme (DELSU ISSP).

Speaking on Wednesday in his office where the inauguration took place, Professor Egwunyenga explained that the programme which was recently endorsed by the University Senate, was influenced by the current difficulties students faced, especially those from poor families.

‘’We have to be more creative in assisting students who are finding it difficult to cope’’, he observed.

The Vice-chancellor explained the Committee’s terms of reference to include preparing a structure of the programme for the approval of the University Governing Council, designing application form for prospective candidates, coming up with eligibility criteria, screening and recommending candidates for the consideration and approval of the Governing Council. According to the Vice-Chancellor, who is giving DELSU an enlightened and committed leadership, the target would be 200 students but could commence with 100 students whose scholarship would cover tuition fees only.

Speaking further, the Professor of Applied Parasitology and Entomology clarified that among other requirements, successful candidates must provide evidence of being academically fit as it is not a reward for lazy students. According to him, this suggests that the candidate must have spent one academic session in order to establish a high academic standing, but added that in special circumstances, a fresh student could be considered.

He advised the committee to ensure that there was a fair spread among the faculties in recommending candidates for the programme.

Relying on his vast experience in fund raising having run an institution of higher learning and also as the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Delta State University, Abraka (ASUU-DELSU) he informed that their duties would include attracting funds from within and outside the University.

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While reminding the committee of similar efforts in some other universities in Nigeria, such as University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and others, he suggested that the committee could target the main alumni association and alumni groups, main unions in the university, faith based organizations, cultural based organizations, philanthropists and industrialists, individuals who have enjoyed awards by the University, and even those interested in specialist scholarships such as law, medicine, pharmacy, engineering, mass communication and others.

He urged the committee, comprising mainly of principal officers, under the chairmanship of Professor (Mrs) Rosemary Okoh, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) to work assiduously in order to ensure that the first batch of successful candidates would be flagged off in the mid-January 2024 to ensure that they enjoyed their accruing benefit in the 2023/2024 academic session which commences in November.

‘’Do your best so that we can institutionalize this important aspect of our responsibilities as a university’’, he charged them.

Speaking at the occasion, a highly elated Professor Mrs Okoh thanked the Vice-Chancellor for finding the members worthy of serving in such a high powered committee.

She told the Vice-Chancellor and other members of the committee that: ‘’what we are doing today is scriptural. If you are giving to the poor, you are lending to God (Proverbs 19:17)’’, adding that the Vice-Chancellor had opened a channel of blessing for DELSU.

She admitted that the job was an enormous responsibility but promised on behalf of her colleagues to rise to the task .

‘’By the grace of God, we will not disappoint you’’, she promised.

Apart from the chairman of the committee, other members present were: Professor Elo Ibagere; Provost, Oleh campus; Mrs Rufina Ufiofio, Registrar; Mrs Otimeyin Ekakitie-Omajuwa, Bursar; Professor Maxwell Iwegbue, Dean of Students; Mr Mathias Jimson, President of the Student’s Union and Mrs Ejiro Etobro, Principal Assistant Registrar (Vice-Chancellor’s Office), member and secretary.