DELSU: DTSG Promises To Complete Abandoned Senate Building, Others

By Ben Nwanne

The Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari has assured that the huge structure meant to be Senate Building of the Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU), which has been abandoned for over 15 years, would be completed this year, in addition to the provision of some critical infrastructure in the University.

Professor Tonukari gave the assurance on Wednesday at his first official visit to the University since his appointment last year, where he described the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori as education-loving, having made a huge budgetary allocation of N46.5 Billion to the sector, second only to the Ministry of Works.

To support his position, he said that the Government of the State had recently appointed 2,000 primary school teachers to strengthen that level of education in the state.

The soft-spoken and cerebral Professor of Molecular Biotechnology, explained that with increased budgetary allocation in the 2024 fiscal year, “it is possible the Senate Building will be completed this year. We are thinking about it”.

According to him, the State Government, would, in the coming months, also furnish the new Faculty of Science Building, provides landscaping, and the provision of solar panels to address the power needs of the structure in addition to other plans to enhance the learning environment of the University.

While noting that the State was lucky in terms of education with four Universities, three Polytechnics and two Colleges of Education, the Commissioner said the M.O.R.E agenda of the State Government was fully on course as it gave opportunities for all Deltans to achieve their potentials.

Professor Tonukari who is on leave of absence from the University, urged the management to work harder to increase internally generated revenue to put the University in a more comfortable financial position.

His words: “We can do more with innovation by adopting digital technology in looking for ways of getting more money. We need some ingenuity to attract funding to make DELSU the best”.

A former Dean of the Faculty of Science in addition to other high profile appointments in the University, Professor Tonukari advised the University to endeavor to utilize its research grant from the State Government in such a way and manner that the society would benefit from research findings.

He, however, observed that the two remaining Colleges of Education in the state needed the assistance of DELSU to help them survive.

He also suggested the need to establish “Life Long Education” for many who did not have the opportunity when they were younger, adding that it could be achieved in the State, since education was on the concurrent list.

Welcoming the Honourable Commissioner and his entourage, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Andy Egwunyenga commended the Governor for Professor Tonukari’s choice as Commissioner for Higher Education, insisting that “he is well placed to understand issues of higher education in Nigeria”.

Professor Egwunyenga made a robust case for more funding, especially with the growing population of DELSU and its rising profile,.being the highest rated state government owned institution in the South-East and South-South Zones of Nigeria and 22nd in research and publications in Nigerian Universities.

He noted that the University system had become highly competitive and as such urged the Commissioner to do everything within his power to advance DELSU and other institutions of higher learning in the State. He drew the attention of the top government functionary to the abandoned protects in the University and requested him to do something about them.

He reminded the Commissioner that two faculties moved down from Asaba when a new University emerged there, adding that the staff of Faculty of Agriculture had not been well rehabilitated.

He called for increased State Government Subvention to keep the University running properly.

The Vice-Chancellor took the Honourable Commissioner and his entourage on a guided tour of some of the projects, including the newly occupied Faculty of Arts building, the abandoned Senate Building, New Science Auditorium and some yet to be equipped laboratories.