… as UNIDEL holds Founder’s Day celebration
Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has called on parents to ensure that their children learn and speak their indigenous languages.
Governor Oborevwori gave the charge during the second edition of UNIDEL Founder’s Day Celebration and one million naira fundraising for lka Language and Cultural Research Centre.
The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Sir Monday Onyeme, said various languages are facing threat of extinction.
“It is my pleasure to address this gathering as we celebrate the second Founder’s Day of this young and very promising university. In less than three years of existence, the University of Delta Agbor is steadily building a reputation for creativity and academic excellence.
“I am particularly impressed by the initiative to establish an lka Language and Cultural Research Centre. This is highly commendable because nationally, our various indigenous languages are facing threat of extinction,” according to the governor.
The governor noted that the establishment of lka Language and Cultural Research Centre is a wake-up call for all to ensure that children are made to learn and speak their indigenous dialects.
The governor assured the management of UNIDEL of its readiness to develop the Language and Cultural Research Centre.
The chairman of the occasion, Mr Chiedu Ebie, appreciated the management of UNIDEL for finding him worthy to chair the occasion, and assured the management of his quest to give all necessary support for the growth of the citadel of learning.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIDEL, Professor Stella Chiemeke in her speech stated that the Founder’s Day Celebration of the University is a yearly event organized to remember and honour founding fathers and mothers who worked assiduously to see the university come to fruition, tranforming the land into a thriving centre of academic excellence, innovation and research.
Prof. Chiemeke paid gratitude to the governor for giving priority attention to the institution, especially the tarring of internal roads in the campus, which ensures a conducive and safe environment for learning and growth.
The Vice Chancellor, while acknowledging the governor’s continued dedication to education, appealed to him to humbly provide furnishing of a 500-seater lecture theatre and classrooms at Owa-Alero Campus, furnishing of a new library at Owa-Alero Campus, construction and furnishing of the main auditorium, science equipment and furnishing of central science laboratory.
The Vice Chancellor also commended the Oki Community, Abavo Clan Union, the Obi of Mbiri, and his kingdom for their commitment and contributions towards the growth of the institution.
On achievements, Prof. Chiemeke stated that in her competence, commitment, and courage has led the University of Delta Agbor to achieve remarkable progress.
She disclosed that in the area of infrastructure, the university parades state-of-the-art facilities and resources such as lecture classrooms with interactive boards, well-equipped engineering workshops, a wonderful Entrepreneur Development Training Centre and beautiful lecture theatres.
She further stated that institution has got full accreditation of 74 academic programmes. Other achievements include the presence of the university website, a learning management system, and a portal system.
In a Founder’s Day lecture delivered by Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, CEO, Zenith Bank, on ‘Transforming Potential into Prosperity: Harnessing Nigeria’s Youthful Population for Economic Growth and National Renaissance,’ the economic expert x-rayed graphically Nigeria’s Population Vs Economic Growth rates, the economic realities of Nigerian youths, challenges facing Nigerian youths, consequences of underdevelopment of youthful human capital, understanding the democratic dividend, strategies for harnessing youth potential as well as youth involvement in national development.
The university management gave an award of recognition to Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, and Governor Oborevwori Sheriff for their immense contributions towards the speedy growth of the institution.
The high point of the event was fundraising and grand breaking/foundation laying of the lka Language and Cultural Research Centre performed by the governor.
Dignitaries at the event were the secretary to the state government, Dr Kingsley Emu, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Hon. Chukwuyem Okoh, Mr Charles Aniagwu, the Speaker represented by Mr Charles Emetulu, Hon. Maryln Okowa-Daramola, captains of the banking industry, traditional rulers, and a host of others.
