Delta State Government Reaffirms Commitment To Quality Education, Says Aniagwu

By Francis Sadhere, Warri

The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has reiterated Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s commitment to providing functional and high-quality education across the state.

Speaking on a national television programme monitored in Asaba over the weekend, Aniagwu emphasized the importance of equipping students with the necessary skills to ensure they are competitive in the global job market.

Responding to concerns regarding the abandoned Sapele Polytechnic at Deghele-Iriabome communities, Elume District in Sapele Local Government Area, Aniagwu assured that Governor Oborevwori’s administration remains dedicated to investing in the state’s educational sector.

He emphasized that the state government views education through the lens of functionality, stressing that education institutions should not merely be created for political correctness but to serve the real needs of students.

“Education is not like opening a biscuit shop where everyone can come and buy biscuits,” Aniagwu remarked. “There is a reason for establishing institutions, and we need to focus on quality and functionality.”

Recalling the 2016 Education Summit organized by the state government, Aniagwu explained that the summit brought professionals from across the country to assess the state’s educational needs and to ensure students could complete their studies without prolonged disruptions caused by strikes.

He further stated that the goal of the summit was to provide students with a world-class education that would make them globally competitive.

He noted that prior to the establishment of three new universities by the previous administration, the state had three polytechnics in Ogwashi-Uku, Ozoro, and Otefe-Oghara, along with three colleges of education, each in the state’s three Senatorial districts. The Delta State University (DELSU) had campuses in the Central, South, and North Senatorial Districts.

Aniagwu stressed that the government’s approach to expanding higher education has always been based on feasibility studies and the growing trend among students to seek university education.

This, he said, led to the conversion of the Ozoro Polytechnic into the Delta State University of Science and Technology, the Asaba campus into Dennis Osadebay University, and the College of Education in Agbor into the University of Delta.

“Today, no state can boast of the number of state-owned higher institutions that we have. Out of our ten federal constituencies, nine have higher institutions,” Aniagwu proudly noted. “In the last nine and a half years, none of our higher institutions have embarked on any strike. This is because we strive to meet the demands necessary to ensure the functionality of our schools.”

Aniagwu also pointed out that a campus of the Southern Delta University was established at Orerokpe, located in the same federal constituency as Sapele, using facilities from the Technical College being built by the state government. This is in line with the administration’s dedication to providing functional and efficient educational opportunities for Deltans.

The commissioner emphasized that the Oborevwori administration has no intention of abolishing any of the institutions established but remains steadfast in its efforts to conduct regular educational needs assessments.

He concluded by assuring that the government would continue to prioritize the development of high-quality, accessible, and functional educational institutions under the administration’s MORE Agenda.

As the state continues to make strides in education, Aniagwu reaffirmed that Governor Oborevwori remains committed to ensuring that all Deltans have access to quality education that meets the needs of both the present and the future.