The Western Delta University, Oghara, Ethiope West local government area (LGA) of Delta state rarely had it so good as it did at the weekend as hefty monetary donations and offers of sundry help tumbled in at its 15th Founders’ Day celebrations and lecture.The Chairman of ThisDay/AriseNews Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, opened the financial floodgates as he announced a donation of N1 billion on behalf of the broadcast station to Western Delta university, to set up Media and Technology School to help enhance the school’s development.At same event, the presidential candidate of the Labour party(LP) in the just concluded general election, Mr. Peter Obi and immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, both agreed to become visiting lecturers at the Western Delta University(WDU), Oghara, Delta State.
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At a time, the students and other visitors who thronged the lecture hall became frenzied as they mobbed the trio of Obi, Obaigbena and Fayemi.The founder of THISDAY said ARISE News Channel donated the sum of N1 billion to the Western Delta University to encourage it in its quest to build a first rate institution committed to the pursuit of excellence in all areas of academic learning, technological development and social service.Speaking at the event, Obaigbena, described former Delta Governor and founder of the university, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, as a long-time friend and a people-oriented leader who is ever ready to sacrifice for the development of his people.
Obaigbena, who eulogised Ibori, also commended him for his large heart and great vision for establishing the university, noting that running a university was money-intensive and the promoters do it virtually for development purposes and not really for profit-making.He said he was at the 15th Founders’ Day celebration of the Western Delta University, “to rejoice with, and encourage, a friend who is giving back to society what it needed to grow.”Ibori, the visitor to the university and former governor of Delta State who personally welcomed Obaigbena, drew thunderous ovation from the people and Dele Momodu, the Publisher of Ovasion Magazine, said, if it were to be the election period, issues would have been made out of the invitation because of the presence of Fayemi, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) and Obi.
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He stated that building an institution like the Western Delta University, established to promote intellectual development that competes with the best in the world, required people and resource collaboration outside the limited scope of party affiliate.Ibori, pleaded with Obaigbena to help build the Western Delta University and make it one of the best private universities in Nigeria.Fayemi, who delivered the lecture at the well-attended event with the title, “Sub-National Governance, the Ekiti State Example,” promised to set up the School of Policy Implementation in the institution.
He also promised to become the first lecturer once the school is completed.Ibori, who is the visitor to the university, appealed to Obi whom he described as an experienced leader who has greatly contributed to nation building to join Fayemi as a lecturer upon the completion of the policy school.Obi agreed to help set it up and join as a visiting professor.
In his speech, Fayemi who cited personal examples of what transpired during his tenure as Ekiti State governor, urged political office holders to ensure balancing when making appointments and avoid the pitfalls of selecting those who would end up as liabilities to the government.He added: “One of the important challenges that every governor will face early is that of making key appointments. Apart from the challenges of ethnic and religious balancing, you also have political IOUs to settle.“Every governor will have to strike the right balance between appointing core politicians who have been involved in the long and tortuous political struggle like mine that brought the governor to office and appointing technocrats who will be required to undertake specific assignments for the smooth running of the government.
– Thursday