The informatiion reaching our desk indicates that Last Saturday 10,215 persons were awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates of the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.
The event was epochal, using the language of the school’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Eric Arubayi, in many ways, specifically because it was the first convocation holding in shortest space of time after the previous one, which held in September, 2012, during which five sessions were merged in one ceremony.
The Vice Chancellor used the occasion to do a some assignments, which included expressing the institution’s gratitude to all that have contributed to the development of its four campuses, particularly the state government, under Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
He also gave a score card of his administration, especially from the last convocation in 2012.
He said the university recorded a number of achievements during the period under review, despite industrial action.
However, despite being very attractive to many youths who apply for admission yearly, Arubayi lamented that the university’s inadequate facilities have limited its progress.
As a result, he said the National Universities’ Commission’s (NUC) restricts its admission quota to the adequacy of infrastructure available. He appealed to other stakeholders to support the university to overcome its infrastructural deficit and surpass its current capacity.
“A sizable portion of the population of young Deltans prefer this university to any other one in the country.
This, in addition to National Universities’ Commission’s policy of tying admission quota to carrying-capacity based on available structure in the university has made the procurement of admissions a nightmare to many who ordinarily should have been considered.
As a way of increasing our admission capacity, therefore, all stakeholders should not only compliment the efforts of the state government, and the institution, but must also, as a premium, synergise all efforts in this regard,” he said.
Governor Uduaghan addressed the concerns of the vice chancellor, urging private sector organisations and the influential personalities from the state to help out.
He represented these classes with the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Mr Tony Elumelu, who he charged to bring foreign aids from his many connections to build infrastructure for the institution.
According to him, he had planned to mount pressure on Elumelu and the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to bring aids for the university using their international connections.
On job creation, the governor said his administration is diversifying the state’s economy from being dependent on oil and gas alone, explaining that the Delta Beyond Oil approach is to open up the state’s economy and provide jobs for indigenes who are qualified, like the graduands.
The governor said: “For those who are not working, I want to say there is hope, there’s a bright future and Delta Beyond Oil strategy is to ensure that you have work and also to ensure that those who are in school now, when they come out they don’t have to wait for too long before they get employed.”
Elumelu, challenged the corporate class to see to it that the emerging generation of professionals is provided with the needed infrastructure and enabling environment.
“We should encourage our young graduates to go out and take risks, find technological solutions to everyday challenges and source for endorsements to build on your dreams. But As leaders in both government and private sectors, we must create the enabling and predisposing environment that can lead to successful entrepreneurship in our environment,” he said.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of gifts to outstanding students of the sessions, especially the valedictorian of the convocation, Joy Onyemechi, who won some prizes. The graduate of Economics used her valedictory message to challenge her fellow graduands to be ready for the challenges ahead of them. She said her next target is to go abroad to study further.
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