Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, Tuesday, charged Nigerian universities to significantly enhance their efforts in viable research and innovation to enable them proffer solutions to the myriad of challenges bedeviling the country.
Governor Oborevwori gave the charge when he received on a courtesy visit, the Management of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, (FUPRE), Ugbomro, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, at Government House, Asaba.
The Governor, who commended FUPRE for their ingenuity, said his administration would continue to support education in the state as a cardinal point of his MORE Agenda.
He added that it was only when universities embark on more relevant research that they would be able to solve the peculiar challenges facing the nation, especially in their host states.
He said: “As a university, you are doing very well, but one thing I must tell you today, is to encourage the university to continue to do more relevant research.
“You find out that universities these days don’t do enough research. When you research, you will be able to do more things, just like you said that you people helped to clean up a polluted village. This was done because you are doing relevant research.
“As a specialised institution, there is a lot to gain from the university. So, I encourage you to go into more relevant research.”
Governor Oborevwori said that with the number of functional universities in the state, Delta was fast becoming a hub for education in the country, assuring that his administration would continue to support the growth and development of education in the state.
“I believe in education, and, like I said few days ago, you may acquire everything on this earth, those things may go but education will remain with you till death.
“The best legacy you can give to your children is education. We want to encourage our children to focus on education. You can see that a lot of our children are always enrolling to go into these universities.
“What I have promised Deltans is that I will continue to support anything that will impact the state and education is one of them.
“You have made some requests about the road leading to the main gate of the university. The Commissioner for Works ( Rural and Riverine) would go and see how they can scope that road immediately.”
Earlier, Professor Rim-Rukeh had, on behalf of the university, congratulated Governor Oborevwori on his electoral victory and subsequent affirmation by the judiciary.
He said the university was established in 2007 with its first set of students admitted in 2008, adding that the student population of the University had since grown to over 10,000.
The Vice-Chancellor also said the university had established several centres of excellence and contributed immensely to environmental reclaimation and sustainability, especially in the oil pollution- affected community of Obi-Ayagha in Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.
He assured the Governor of the university’s commitment to excellence in research and innovation for national development and training of Niger Delta Youths on various skills that would make them employable.