By Ifeanyi Uwagwu
In a landmark event during the 17th Convocation Ceremony of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, the Student Union Government (SUG) honoured Governor Sheriff Oborevwori with a Public Service Award and presented a total of ₦2 million in cash gifts to outstanding graduating students.
The ceremony, held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, saw the SUG President, Amb. Augustine Onovughegor, bestow the Exemplary Service Award on Governor Oborevwori in recognition of his unwavering commitment to improving the welfare and quality of life of Deltans.
It marked the first time in DELSU’s history that a sitting governor and Visitor to the university has been so honoured by the student body.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of a ₦1 million cash gift to the overall best graduating student, Miss Okwa Oghenemine, a Mathematics graduate who achieved a remarkable CGPA of 4.95.
The SUG also announced a ₦10,000 cash reward for each of the top 100 graduating students in appreciation of their academic excellence.
In his remarks, Amb. Augustine Onovughegor appealed to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Asagba, to retain best graduating students across faculties and departments as staff of the university, to further bolster DELSU’s academic strength.
Earlier at the convocation, Governor Oborevwori had ordered the immediate revocation of the Senate Building contract, which had been abandoned for over 22 years, and approved the automatic employment of Miss Oghenemine into the state civil service.
He also inaugurated a 1-kilometre road linking the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences to the Faculty of Arts, as part of efforts to improve infrastructure on the university’s campuses.
In his address, Vice-Chancellor Professor Asagba announced that a total of 6,401 students graduated from the 2023/2024 academic session, including 830 postgraduate degree holders. He praised the university’s achievements under the current administration, including 100 per cent programme accreditation and a significant rise in national rankings.
