“I am aware there are some who question the rationale for having four universities in the state. It is because such people are not privy to the data available to government and are therefore, understandably not conversant with the harsh reality confronting multiplied thousands of qualified secondary school graduates in their quest for university education.
“However, only a fraction of those who passed could be admitted. Also, for the 2019/2020 academic session, 25,896 candidates from the State chose Delta State University as first choice. Out of this number, 22,358 qualified but only 4,854 candidates could be admitted.Governor Okowa lamented that majority of Deltans could not afford the fees charged by private universities.
“It is our considered view that the benefits of having these universities far outweigh the cost. In fact, it makes more economic sense for the State Government to upgrade the institutions as we have done because not only will these universities inherit infrastructure and personnel of the previous institutions, it will also guarantee good return on investment.
“To work out strategies for the smooth transition of the institutions to the new universities, including the winding down of all ongoing certificate and diploma programmes hitherto mounted therein;
Senseless