By Eseoghene Emuke
The Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Johnbull Nyerhovwo Tonukari, says the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration will pay key attention to the developmental needs of the State Polytechnic in Otefe-Oghara.
Tonukari stated that Governor Oborevwori sees education as the bedrock of the development of any society, thus the government was prepared to invest heavily in uplifting the socio-infrastructural needs of tertiary institutions in the state.
The education commissioner disclosed this when he paid a familiarisation visit to Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, promising to present the challenges confronting the institution to the State Executive Council for urgent redress.
Tonukari, received by the Rector of the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri and other management staff, inspected ongoing and abandoned projects in the polytechnic.
According to him, “This polytechnic (Otefe-Oghara) is a huge institution and it’s good asset to Delta State. The population of students is good but we can do better than what we have right now.
“I must confess, the institution needs infrastructures like roads and more buildings including hostels which the students requested.
“We are going to extend some of the policies we have for universities to the polytechnics to enable them take advantage of foreign collaboration and capacity building. That’s what we are going to initiate when we get back to the office and that’s what they can use for research and travel.”
Earlier in his remark, Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Ofuophu-Biri, commended the commissioner for the visit, adding that the familiarisation will open doors for speeding development of the institution.
While appreciating Governor Oborevwori for the appointment of Prof. Tonukari as Commissioner for Higher Education, he observed that the former Dean of Science at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, has the capacity to turn around the fortunes of tertiary institutions in the state.
Presenting some of the challenges confronting the institution to the commissioner, Prof. Ofuophu-Biri appealed for the construction of more lecture halls, auditorium and internal roads.
He also called on the government to resolve the epileptic power supply to the polytechnic as well as the accreditation of National and Higher National Diploma (HND) courses for the school to enable the institution to maintain its standard and rating among the best tertiary institutions in the country.
