Western Delta Varsity graduates 198

A total of 198 students have graduated from the Western Delta University, Oghara in Delta State.

They were the first set of students to be awarded first degree by the university and none of them made a first class degree at the institution first convocation ceremony held last weekend.

The two best graduating students, Efevberha Oghenevbaire and Emuobohwo Joy were awarded N100,000 cash each by the institution and a scholarship by the Delta State Government for post graduate studies in any foreign university.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Peter Hugho in his address warned parents against sending their wards to study in any African University especially those along the West African coast.

Prof. Hugho said the Web metric ranking of African universities showed that Ghana universities were not better than Nigeria public universities.

The VC stated that the instability in Nigeria’s universities adduced by parents for sending their children to foreign universities was not found in private universities.

He noted that there has been no incidences of disruption of academic activities brought abot by unionism in private universities.

According to him, “It is my contention that private universities are on to rescue the educational system from the decadence into which it is sliding. This is because the student will be getting good quality education free of minimal vices in a well organized and regulated environment”.

Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Andrew Onokehoraye called for amendment of the laws establishing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to enable it contribute to the development of private universities in the country.

The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin said private universities generate their own funding and are expected to play by the same rules in terms of infrastructures, admissions, teaching and research as prescribed by NUC and JAMB.

He called for understanding of the fact that the goals of universities whether federal, state or private universities are to produce educated workforce that will meet Nigeria’s need in the 21st century.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced the scholarship for the two best students promised to support the university in actualising its dreams.