AS Delta State celebrated its 33rd anniversary on August 27, the state’s Higher Education Commissioner Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukarir elected on the significant strides made by the state, especially in education and infrastructure under the current administration. In an exclusive interview with The Pointer Crew of Ifeanyi Uwagwu, Jumai Nwachukwu, Prisca Ogbo and Kase Greatness, the Commissioner highlights the progress in transforming Delta State into an educational hub, with four universities, three polytechnics, and two colleges of education—all contributing to the state’s remarkable growth, while also addressing several challenges encountered along the way and other national issues.
Excerpts….
The state turned 33 on August 27. In your assessment, how has it progressed towards the founding fathers’ dreams, and to what extent have these aspirations been met?
When the state was founded, I was still young, and some of you were not even born. Delta State is a very enterprising state, and the dream was for it to be like a mini-country within Nigeria, where we have the expertise to achieve significant development strides. I can say that we have largely realized the dreams of the state’s founders. In a country like Nigeria, where there are several states in addition to the federal government, each state should develop itself well and contribute to the centre. You don’t always have to rely on the Federal Government to decide what to do. A state can be well-developed and still contribute to national development. That’s what each state should strive for, and Delta State has all it takes. Look at our road network, infrastructure, and human development—we are doing exceptionally well compared to other states. I believe the Founding Fathers would be proud of our achievements so far.
Given the high number of higher institutions in our state, how would you rate its educational development?
When it comes to Higher Education, which is my purview, Delta State is number one in the country. When the state was created, we had no university; there was only one university for Bendel State, Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, with a campus in Abraka. Today, that campus is a full-fledged university, one of the best in the country according to rankings. It is our premier university in Delta State, and we now have three additional state universities to complement Abraka.
In terms of tertiary institutions, we have done exceptionally well. This development has eased the pressure on parents compared to the past, when gaining admission was extremely difficult. We now have four universities, three polytechnics, and two colleges of education. This expansion allows us to absorb many students directly from secondary schools into higher education. We are performing exceptionally well compared to other states in Nigeria. In terms of the number of students and institutional capacity, we are doing better than the national average and even compare favorably with some European countries. The MORE agenda including providing opportunities for all is really being accomplished through the expansion of tertiary education in Delta State.
Congratulations Sir on your first anniversary in office. One year into office, how has your plan to elevate higher education progressed?
I work for a governor who is passionate about education and this aspect is often underreported. When I started, I gave a speech to my team and met severally with His Excellency Rt Hon Elder Sheriff Oborevwori. He has a vision for education, and I explained how we could implement that vision. We are doing well. For example, when the three new institutions were set up, employment was initiated, but I had to meet with His Excellency to explain the situation. Since then, we’ve employed about 600 professors, and other academic and non-academic staff across the institutions. This level of employment is unprecedented. In addition to the new institutions, we have also made significant progress with existing ones, like Delta State University Abraka and the College of Education Mosogar. Many of our institutions, such as Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, are starting new programs. We’re introducing new programs that align with the needs of the modern economy, not just the traditional ones. The university was established as a Technical University, so it’s important to offer programs that meet current job market demands. Delta State Polytechnic Otefe-Ogharahas just submitted a list of new programs, which are excellent and align with what companies are looking for. We are expanding and updating programs across all our institutions, and I am confident that they are growing and improving.
In your one year in office, you have faced several challenges, such as inadequacy of hostel facilities, poor electricity supply, and the need for relevant programs. How do you plan to address these?
Let me address some of these challenges and how we plan to overcome them. First, regarding the introduction of new programs, one of the issues we face, not just in Delta State but across the country, is the neglect of our Colleges of Education, which are well-established to train teachers for primary and secondary schools. Many parents prefer sending their children directly to universities. However, there is now a concept called ‘dual-mode,’ which was approved by the Federal Government. I want Delta to be one of the first State to implement this, where our Colleges of Education will offer both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and Degree programs. We are working on this within the ministry and plan to submit it to His Excellency for further approval. Once the bill is passed, the Colleges of Education can start operating degree programs, which will enhance their status.
Now, addressing the issue of hostel facilities has been a significant challenge. If you’re familiar with Abraka, you would know that every year, there is a scramble for hostel accommodation because of the large student population. Abraka has more hostel facilities than many other institutions in the region, yet it still isn’t sufficient to meet the demand. Recently, some private entrepreneurs have come forward, and we are encouraging more private-public partnerships (PPP) in this area. For instance, a private entrepreneur recently completed a hostel at the College of Education in Warri, which is now fully occupied. We want to encourage other wealthy individuals in Delta State to invest in building hostels across all institutions.
Dennis Osadebe University in Asaba inherited hostel facilities built for athletes during a recent sports festival, but even that is not enough. The demand for hostel accommodation is still high, and this remains one of our major challenges.
As for electricity, this is a nationwide problem, not just in Delta State. You may have heard that the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) is owed about half of its revenue, which includes about N260 million from the University of Benin (UNIBEN), and also Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria complained that it cannot afford the N3. 6 billion annual electricity bill slammed on it, which averaged about N300 million monthly. Some institutions in Delta State are now connected to the 33 KVA line,
upgraded from the previous 20 KVA line. However, the electricity bills are enormous, and no institution can afford to pay them in full, so they only supply electricity for some hours.
Electricity is a major challenge not just for our institutions but nationwide. Recently, the Federal House of Representatives’ Committee on Education visited Delta State, and we discussed this issue. We discussed solutions such as providing turbines to generate power for institutions, but these discussions are ongoing. Solving the electricity problem is complex, but we are committed to finding ways to mitigate it.
Talking about power, our state-owned polytechnic in Otefe-Oghara recently invented a 2.5 KV generator. What support has the Ministry provided to ensure this innovation thrives, given the ongoing power challenges in the country?
Thank you for that question. One of the key discussions I’ve been having with the heads of institutions is about the relevance of their research. It’s important that their research contributes to the economy and benefits Delta State directly. In our budget for higher education, there is an allocation specifically for research, and for the first time, we are not just giving out the money but also asking institutions to present plans on how they intend to use the grant.
I have personally seen the 2.5 KV generator prototype developed at Otefe-Oghara Polytechnic. However, mass production is not something a polytechnic is designed for; its role is more about demonstrating and patenting innovations. So far, they have applied to His Excellency, the Governor to demonstrate their prototype.
Once the prototype is patented, the ideal scenario would be to partner with an indigenous company that can mass-produce it. But before we get to that stage, we need to evaluate the prototype’s affordability and practicality. It’s a process that involves multiple stages, including demonstration, patenting, and possibly licensing to a company for mass production.
The polytechnic’s invention is indeed a significant development, and we are showcasing it as an example of the kind of practical projects that can improve lives. It’s part of a broader vision to ensure that our tertiary institutions contribute tangible innovations that benefit society.
Many Nigerians seem to believe there have been no breakthroughs from our tertiary institutions based on research and indigenous technology that has benefited them, what’s your comment on that?
There are several breakthroughs, but maybe they don’t see them. If you are in the United States, and you want to make feeds for poultry, you make use of their materials based on what you are taught in school and available there, but Nigerian scientists are now making use of what we have in Nigeria and adapting local raw materials. Some of these vehicles you see on the road were assembled in Nigeria. You will be surprised that there are many Nigerians who work in locations where these things are assembled. We are trying to reach a point where degrees would not just be on paper but will be practical and applicable. So we are in the right place and its part of the development.
In terms of innovation and research, many projects and research findings in our institutions show potential but lack the necessary funding and support for further development. How do you think we can tackle this issue, especially when industrialists prefer outsourcing production to countries like China and others?
This issue indeed requires government intervention at both the State and Federal levels. We already have support mechanisms in place like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which provides money for infrastructure and library development. However, there is a growing call to allocate funds specifically for the development and commercialization of research projects.
In my experience, particularly during my PhD in the United States, I saw firsthand how research can transition from the lab to real-world application through government grants and partnerships with companies. In Nigeria, we are yet to reach that level, but we are moving in that direction. Fortunately, there is already a provision for research grants for tertiary institutions in the Delta State budget. As Commissioner for Higher Education, I will be advocating for more budgetary allocations that support not just research but also the development and production of prototypes.
We must encourage our local companies to invest in these innovations. While it’s understandable that businessmen want to make profits, there is a need for federal and state governments to provide incentives and financial support to bridge the gap between research and mass production. Delta State already has a budget for research in some of the tertiary institutions and we hope to build on that. With the right support, we can harness the potential of our research and development to create solutions that meet the needs of our country.
Nine billion Naira was allocated in the State’s 2023 budget for upgrading tertiary institutions, which ranked among the top two capital projects for that fiscal year. How much progress has been made so far in that regard?
I wish I could answer this question with your camera in the tertiary institutions so you could see the progress that has been made. I will tell you, fortunately, my Ministry is one of the most favoured when it comes to budgets. The entire education budget is about N46 billion. We have a lot of capital projects underway. For example, if you visit Orerokpe right now, you’ll see the development of a second campus of the Delta State University of Science and Technology Ozoro in an advanced stage. The technical school is being converted into a university campus. The work being done is impressive, and we have utilized the budget very well. In addition to this, we’ve completed other infrastructures in various institutions. The Faculty of Agriculture at the Dennis Osadebe University (DOU) Asaba was completed and commissioned by His Excellency Rt Hon Elder Sheriff Oborevwori. The Engineering Faculty at the University of Delta (UNIDEL),Agbor houses one of the best laboratories in the Country, and during the last convocation, His Excellency also commissioned the Faculty of Science at Delta State University Abraka.
In summary, the budget has been effectively utilized, and we are seeing tangible results across various tertiary institutions in the state.
State universities are expected to have more affordable fees than private ones, but their fees are quite high and often compete with private institutions. Is the state government doing anything to ease the financial burden on students?
If you understand the costs involved in running an institution, you will appreciate how expensive it can be. It’s important to clarify that we don’t actually have ‘school fees’ in Delta State institutions. What you refer to as school fees are service charges. There is no tuition fee in any Delta State institution. These charges include costs for services like insurance and ICT, which are essential. The charges you see are necessary to keep the institutions running. Times have changed since you were in school, and costs have increased significantly. However, the Delta State Government is committed to easing the burden on students and their families. For instance, when there was an uproar over the acceptance fee at Delta State University, the State Governor intervened and reduced the fee by 25%, which served as a palliative measure for parents. Additionally, Delta State offers bursary awards to about 30,000 students, which helps to alleviate some of the financial pressures. While things are indeed difficult, the State is doing its best to ensure that education remains accessible and affordable for our students.
Recently the ASUU chairman, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke argued that student loans should be turned into grants, given the challenges graduates face in finding employment in the country. What is your take on this?
My answer is my personal opinion, not an official stance. When people like the ASUU chairman and I went to school, the number of students in universities and polytechnics was far less than10% of what we have now. Back then, graduates could find jobs and quickly take off in their careers. Today, there are hundreds of thousands of students, and state governments cannot afford to fund everyone. Giving student loans isn’t a bad idea. In advanced countries like the United States, students are also given loans because the government cannot pay for everyone.
In the U.S. a student can take such loans to attend University, while another may not. It is a matter of choice. Similarly, in Nigeria, students in Delta State have the choice to take the loan if they want. Several Delta students are already accessing the loan. I would advise indigent students who have no sponsor to take the loan and pursue their education rather than stay at home.
Recently, the Minister for Education Prof. Tahir Mahmman, in a policy review, increased the minimum admission age for tertiary institutions from 16 to 18, which would commence next year. What’s your take on the admission policy?
We must comply with Federal Government directives. In the past, students typically entered University at 18 or 19, which made them more mature and better prepared for the challenges of higher education. Parents today are pushing their children too much. For example, I once taught a brilliant student who entered at 15, but she lacked the maturity to excel. Had she started at 17, she might have made a first-class degree.
I support the idea of starting at 18 because children need time to mature. Graduating at 22 or 23 gives them the maturity to handle the responsibilities of adulthood. Rushing them into University at a younger age deprives them of this crucial development.
Delta State celebrated its 33rd anniversary last week. What advice do you have for Deltans, especially with this new administration?
First of all, Deltans should celebrate their Governor, His Excellency Rt Hon Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, who values education and has made significant strides in this area. Education is key to meaningful development and opportunities. Delta State is working hard to expand its higher education institutions, creating more opportunities for students to gain skills that will benefit them when they leave school.
Delta State is on track to become the hub for education in the country, particularly in higher education. We are expanding faculties, such as the new Faculty of Computing and Faculty of Communication for the first time, which will offer specialized training in areas like Journalism and Mass Communication. I urge Deltans to take advantage of these opportunities.
Considering the new economy and the shift in job markets, do you think there should be a campaign to encourage parents to allow their children to study courses that align with their passions and the demands of the new economy?
Parents are gradually understanding the importance of allowing their children to pursue their passions. I know of a friend whose parents pushed him to study medicine, but after practicing for a while, he realized it wasn’t his calling and switched to I.T. Similarly, I knew someone who left Law, which his parents had forced him to study, to become a furniture maker. He is now very successful.
I advise parents to be more open-minded. We have courses coming up that can enable students to work anywhere in the world and earn well, just like expatriates.
Several persons have come and gone through this door as Commissioner for Higher Education, and each of them left a legacy. What would you like your legacy to be?
I don’t seek publicity or to be remembered, and neither do I want streets named after me. I just want to do my best quietly and make a positive impact. Before I leave, I want to see more than 20,000 students gaining admission annually into our universities, up from less than 10,000 we had a few years ago. I want us to produce high-quality graduates.
I am also planning, along with the Commissioner for Science and Technology, to organize science exhibitions where students can showcase their products and prototypes. But, to be honest, I don’t care about being remembered. I just want to bring positive change to the Ministry and the State.
