The governor also said the academic calendar of the state-owned universities had not been disrupted by staff strikes or student unrest in 17 years.
He described the development as evidence of the state government’s commitment to maintaining stability in the institutions.
Oborevwori described Delta State as “an emerging education hub in Nigeria” and said his administration remained committed to repositioning the state-owned universities as centres of excellence.
He charged the newly inaugurated governing councils to formulate and implement policies that would strengthen corporate governance, improve institutional efficiency and promote sustainable growth.
Councils Charged on Accountability
The governor urged the councils, as the highest policy-making bodies of the universities, to ensure regular meetings, collective responsibility, transparency and accountability in the administration of the institutions.
He also cautioned them against nepotism and parochial interests, urging members to demonstrate integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities and maintain public confidence in the institutions.
Oborevwori said the councils should ensure that cases of sexual harassment, examination malpractice, partiality and cultism were not tolerated in the universities.
“The governing councils should ensure that cases of sexual harassment, examination malpractice, partiality, and cultism are not tolerated in our universities,” he said.
He added that where laws or institutional rules were breached or circumvented, the councils should apply appropriate disciplinary measures.
“Equally important is the need to ensure equity, fairness and justice in matters of staff discipline,” the governor said.
Government Approves Hostel Construction
The governor said the state government would continue to support tertiary education within the limits of available resources, while encouraging the institutions to explore additional sources of funding.
He urged the governing councils to devote attention to marketing their institutions and attracting private-sector investments to complement government funding.
Oborevwori disclosed that his administration had approved the construction of two hostels for each of the nine state-owned tertiary institutions.
According to him, each hostel will have a capacity of 480 students.
He charged the councils to build on the progress recorded in the institutions and make them more competitive nationally and internationally.
Responding on behalf of the appointees, Muoboghare, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Dennis Osadebay University, thanked the governor for appointing him and other members of the councils.
Muoboghare called for the establishment of a Higher Education Endowment Fund to provide sustainable funding for tertiary institutions and strengthen their capacity to compete globally.
He also urged prominent citizens of Delta State and Nigeria to partner with the government by investing in student hostels, staff accommodation, lecture halls and faculty buildings.
He said government alone could not provide all the infrastructure required to develop the state’s universities.
The development comes as the Delta State Government continues to expand its investment in tertiary education, with the new salary structure, infrastructure projects and governing councils expected to support the administration and growth of the state’s higher education institutions.
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