ON THE UPGRADE OF THREE INSTITUTIONS IN DELTA STATE - FEW QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK OKOWA
January 27, 2021 | News
With regards to the reported bill forwarded to the Delta State House of Assembly by the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for the upgrade of three existing higher institutions to independent universities, which has generated heat online,
ON THE UPGRADE OF THREE INSTITUTIONS IN DELTA STATE - FEW QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ASK OKOWA
With regards to the reported bill forwarded to the Delta State House of Assembly by the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for the upgrade of three existing higher institutions to independent universities, which has generated heat online, as critics of the decision are pointing to the fact that this is the marginalisation of the Delta central senatorial District of the state because the said three institutions are all in Delta north and Delta South , which are: College of Education, Agbor to University of Education; Delta poly, Ozoro to Delta state university of science and technology, while DELSU Anwai campus to be University of Agriculture.
While some have argued that the Three new Universities should have been evenly distributed across the three senatorial districts of the state. Others are saying that out of the 22 higher institutions in Delta state, nine are in Delta Central, seven in Delta North and six in Delta South. From this, some have argued that Novena University, Western Delta University and Edwin Clark University are all private universities, hence do not fall into this category. And if removed, Delta South and North will be left with five institutions each while Delta central will be left with eight. As such, the said agitation by the Delta Central is not necessary.
For me, with this latest development, one question that we need to ask Governor Okowa is, will the Delta State Government annex the Law faculty of Oleh to Ozoro or what? Let also bear in mind that Delta State University Abraka faculties are scattered all over the State.
In my opinion, Delta State University Abraka, is being over politicized. The majority of the elites in Delta Central and Delta South live in Urhobo lands, hence we have the institutions more in Urhobo land. The Urhobo land is strategically centrally located in the center of Delta State. And Institutions are established for areas where they will have access to learning by the students. Almost the entire Urhobo areas are currently 'Urbanised' as the population is growing. This is the fact at the moment. But I believe with time, other areas of the state will be developed as well, and the development will spread.
Lagos and Ibadan have many institutions today due to the Urbanization of these places. London has more institutions in the UK due to the same factor.
It is also worthy to note that most of the people putting up these arguments are either from Delta South and Delta North, or they are all living in Urhobo land areas, using the government facilities in the Urhobo areas, and not where they come from. The problem we have are too many in this part of the world because of tribal and religious sentiments, and most people don't think properly, especially where things are supposed to be located appropriately.
In the advanced countries and their cities/towns, you have more people getting more of Government attention in terms of infrastructure because the target is the usage, hence, public structures are situated in most where the population is highest. But here, some of the elites and politicians deliberately deny development in their towns/villages, for the purpose of election manipulation and inflated population figures. And this is easily done because of the location of those towns/villages. If we must develop as a country, we should honestly be committed to it, and not mere campaign of this and that for sentimental reasons. The Okowa government knows that Delta State University Abraka spread all its faculties to every part of the State, and he knows that the Urhobo areas actually needed more institutions than other areas because the majority of the Delta elites and the population, live in the Delta central areas with their families. The majority of the students of the Delta State polytechnic in Ozoro, live in the Delta central areas.
I am not against the new universities at Ozoro, Agbor and Asaba. But there is the need to say the truth as it is, without fear or favour. As it is now Okowa should also upgrade the Delta State University with all the faculties located in Abraka, including the Teaching hospital, faculties of Law and Agriculture.
In my opinion, former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, was the one who created this problem by taking Delta State Teaching hospital, which ought to be in Abraka, Eku or Warri Central, to Oghara his hometown. These places have a better population size than Oghara, especially since the Teaching hospital depends on the number of patients. And most of the patients live Warri, Effurun, and Ekpan areas. Same with medical Doctors and medical consultants, they all live in Warri, Effurun and Ekpan areas. Sadly today, most of the patients and staff in the Teaching hospital daily drive all the way from these areas to Oghara town?. As noted by an Isoko friend from Olomoro town in Isoko land: "James Ibori started it all. Why put University Teaching Hospital in Oghara instead of Abraka? Will you blame Okowa for turning College of Education Agbor to a full fledged University College of Education and the ones in Ozoro and Anwai-Asaba respectively also to full fledged universities??? It's now a turn by turn thing. Anyway, I stand with Okowa on this to congratulate the Isoko people!!!"
Zik Gbemre.
January 27, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With regards to the reported bill forwarded to the Delta State House of Assembly by the Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for the upgrade of three existing higher institutions to independent universities, which has generated heat online, as critics of the decision are pointing to the fact that this is the marginalisation of the Delta central senatorial District of the state because the said three institutions are all in Delta north and Delta South , which are: College of Education, Agbor to University of Education; Delta poly, Ozoro to Delta state university of science and technology, while DELSU Anwai campus to be University of Agriculture.
While some have argued that the Three new Universities should have been evenly distributed across the three senatorial districts of the state. Others are saying that out of the 22 higher institutions in Delta state, nine are in Delta Central, seven in Delta North and six in Delta South. From this, some have argued that Novena University, Western Delta University and Edwin Clark University are all private universities, hence do not fall into this category. And if removed, Delta South and North will be left with five institutions each while Delta central will be left with eight. As such, the said agitation by the Delta Central is not necessary.
For me, with this latest development, one question that we need to ask Governor Okowa is, will the Delta State Government annex the Law faculty of Oleh to Ozoro or what? Let also bear in mind that Delta State University Abraka faculties are scattered all over the State.
In my opinion, Delta State University Abraka, is being over politicized. The majority of the elites in Delta Central and Delta South live in Urhobo lands, hence we have the institutions more in Urhobo land. The Urhobo land is strategically centrally located in the center of Delta State. And Institutions are established for areas where they will have access to learning by the students. Almost the entire Urhobo areas are currently 'Urbanised' as the population is growing. This is the fact at the moment. But I believe with time, other areas of the state will be developed as well, and the development will spread.
Lagos and Ibadan have many institutions today due to the Urbanization of these places. London has more institutions in the UK due to the same factor.
It is also worthy to note that most of the people putting up these arguments are either from Delta South and Delta North, or they are all living in Urhobo land areas, using the government facilities in the Urhobo areas, and not where they come from. The problem we have are too many in this part of the world because of tribal and religious sentiments, and most people don't think properly, especially where things are supposed to be located appropriately.
In the advanced countries and their cities/towns, you have more people getting more of Government attention in terms of infrastructure because the target is the usage, hence, public structures are situated in most where the population is highest. But here, some of the elites and politicians deliberately deny development in their towns/villages, for the purpose of election manipulation and inflated population figures. And this is easily done because of the location of those towns/villages. If we must develop as a country, we should honestly be committed to it, and not mere campaign of this and that for sentimental reasons. The Okowa government knows that Delta State University Abraka spread all its faculties to every part of the State, and he knows that the Urhobo areas actually needed more institutions than other areas because the majority of the Delta elites and the population, live in the Delta central areas with their families. The majority of the students of the Delta State polytechnic in Ozoro, live in the Delta central areas.
I am not against the new universities at Ozoro, Agbor and Asaba. But there is the need to say the truth as it is, without fear or favour. As it is now Okowa should also upgrade the Delta State University with all the faculties located in Abraka, including the Teaching hospital, faculties of Law and Agriculture.
In my opinion, former Delta State Governor, James Ibori, was the one who created this problem by taking Delta State Teaching hospital, which ought to be in Abraka, Eku or Warri Central, to Oghara his hometown. These places have a better population size than Oghara, especially since the Teaching hospital depends on the number of patients. And most of the patients live Warri, Effurun, and Ekpan areas. Same with medical Doctors and medical consultants, they all live in Warri, Effurun and Ekpan areas. Sadly today, most of the patients and staff in the Teaching hospital daily drive all the way from these areas to Oghara town?. As noted by an Isoko friend from Olomoro town in Isoko land: "James Ibori started it all. Why put University Teaching Hospital in Oghara instead of Abraka? Will you blame Okowa for turning College of Education Agbor to a full fledged University College of Education and the ones in Ozoro and Anwai-Asaba respectively also to full fledged universities??? It's now a turn by turn thing. Anyway, I stand with Okowa on this to congratulate the Isoko people!!!"
Zik Gbemre.
January 27, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes