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The move by Delta State Government to relocate the Faculty of Management Sciences of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area to Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area, has been received with protest.
Protesters were seen demonstrating early Wednesday in Ozoro, the university town, which saw a massive crowd of people from Isoko communities gathering with leaves and placards to condemn the relocation of the faculty.
The protesters disrupted economic activities in Ozoro, burning tyres and blocking the ever-busy Ughelli-Ozoro-Kwale-Asaba expressway, vowing not to disperse until the State government reversed the decision to relocate the Faculty of Management Sciences of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
Recall that the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro was first established as a College of Agriculture, which was turned into a Polytechnic on January 1, 2002, by law during the administration of James Ibori.
In January 2021, the administration of Ifeanyi Okowa announced plans to convert Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro and two other schools into full-fledged universities. The bill for the upgrade of the Ozoro polytechnic to a university was passed into law by the Delta State House of Assembly in February 2021 after going through the House Committee on Education.
Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the present Governor of Delta State was the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly at the time of the upgrade. Oborevwori ensured a speedy passage of the bill establishing the university as it is. Thus, the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro was founded in 2021.
When Delta State University (DELSU) was founded with the main campus in Abraka, there were two (2) other campuses in Anwai and Oleh. The idea was to spread the State-owned institution across the three Senatorial Districts of the State and make education easily accessible for Deltans. It was celebrated by all and sundry.
While the Anwai campus of DELSU has since metamorphosed into Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, through a similar bill that established the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, Oleh still houses the faculties of law and engineering of DELSU, Abraka.
Should the Delta State Government move the faculties of law and engineering from Oleh and relocate them to Abraka? That is a question many are asking.
Recently, in a meeting with leaders and traditional rulers from Isoko nation at the Government House, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori informed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had approved the establishment of more faculties for the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.
Governor Oborevwori announced the new faculties as Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Faculty of Health Sciences. The Governor said the three new faculties approved by the NUC for the University reflected his desire to ensure that Isoko nation continued to enjoy a pride of place in the delivery of his administration’s MORE Agenda.
“Like I promised, I am going to be Governor for all Deltans and I am doing just that. We are doing our best. We need unity and peace in Delta State,” Governor Oborevwori told the visiting Isoko leaders and traditional rulers.
Oborevwori has not gone short of his words since scaling the electoral hurdles and surviving 38 court cases to become the Governor of Delta State. He has stood firm and he is delivering on his MORE Agenda in Delta.
Explaining the rationale behind relocating the faculty of Management Sciences in Ozoro to Orerokpe, Vice-Chancellor of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, Professor Jacob Oboreh said it was intended to open up the university for rapid development.
According to Prof. Oboreh, 12 new programmes in the existing faculties of the university will be created immediately in the area of science and technology, adding that the programmes being relocated will not in any way be a set back to the university.
Oboreh confirmed the disclosure by Governor Oborevwori that in addition to these new 12 programmes, three faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Pharmacy and Health Sciences have been approved for the university.
“The Isoko and Ozoro people should accept the relocation in good faith and let me assure all concerned that we will give equal opportunities to all Deltans in terms of admission and other considerations.
“The Isoko people who are major stakeholders in the University have met with the Governor and he has opened up his plans for the rapid development of the University.
“I therefore call on all our people to be calm and allow the Governor to unfold his massive development plans for our nascent university and the overall educational sector in our state,” Oboreh explained.
However, given the protest that welcomed the gesture of the State Government to relocate the Faculty of Management Sciences of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, many have suggested that there is no longer need for it, but that the three new faculties approved by the NUC should be sited in Orerokpe instead. That should be the final decision of the Delta State Government.