Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Friday, identified practical education and hands-on learning as a panacea to the nation’s over-dependence on foreign goods.
Oborevwori called for less emphasis on theoretical knowledge and more on practical knowledge, adding that an education system that teaches and empowers people to produce goods for local consumption and exports would lead to national development.
He stated this during the inspection of projects at the University of Delta, Agbor, Owa-Alero campus in Ika North East Local Government Area of the state.
The projects inspected include; the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Lecture theatres, Engineering Workshops; Solar farm at Mother and Child Hospital Owa-Alero, and the 11.3km Ute-Okpu – Ute-Elugu Road in Ika North-East Local Government Area of the State.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme said Nigeria and other developing nations could rely less on imported goods if the nation embraced technical education for improved productivity.
He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done by the contractor and commended the immediate past administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for initiating the projects.
He said the projects were ready for inauguration in the next few days.
“As everybody can see here, this is a very massive project that commenced 15 months back. So to have done this much in a few months is very commendable.
“This goes to prove that in line with His Excellency’s agenda for this government in the next four years, we are poised to serve our people and improve on whatever we met on the ground.
“You all understand that the previous administration started this project and when this government was campaigning, the governor told every one of us that he is going to ensure that all projects are completed; there will be no abandoned project.
“Apart from completing all existing projects, we are going to make sure that we embark on new ones to make life more meaningful for Deltans.
“In fact, I am very pleased with the progress of work so far. I am very sure that we will come back here in a few days to inaugurate this project as part of the projects we want to use to commemorate our 100 days in office.
“I am particularly impressed about the students doing practical. We were in the Arts department and I saw what the students were doing over there.
“We are seeing cups being made from bamboo. I used to have one of these cups but it was imported from China. But seeing our own people coming to do that now is the way to go.
“We should emphasis less on theoretical knowledge and emphasis more on practical knowledge and that is what has been demonstrated in this institution today.
“So I believe that the government of Governor Okowa did the right thing when he upgraded these facilities. The whole Deltans and Nigerians are going to be better off this way,” he said.
On the Ute-Okpu – Ute-Elugu Road, the Governor who conducted the project by the Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads) Mr. Charles Aniagwu, said the 11.3km Road comprises 7.8km of fresh construction and 3.5km of resurfacing.
He commended the contractor for the quality of work done, adding that the road would be inaugurated within the next two weeks.
