Lack of enabling law may delay take-off of new polytechnics, commissioner hints

By: Embale Jonathan
From: Bomadi

The chairman of the committee on the establishment of four new polytechnics in Delta State, Mr. Hope Eghagha recently dropped hint that lack of enabling law on the establishment of the schools may delay the quick take of the 4 institutions.

The committee chairman made this remark in Bomadi while addressing a mammoth crowd at the palace of the Amananaowei of Bomadi mein kingdom during an inspection of a permanent site made available by the people of the community for the institution.

Mr. Eghagha disclosed that though government is doing its best to put the needed infrastructure in place for the quick take off of the school by October next year, he however noted that lack of an enabling law by the State House of Assembly to back up the establishment of the four new polytechnics is required to breathe life into them.

Mr. Eghagha, who is also the Delta State commissioner for Higher Education, explained that the polytechnics cannot function without the backing of a law empowering the appointment of provost, rectors and other authorities of the institution. The committee chairman declared the present administration’s readiness to implement to the letter the three point agenda of human capital and infrastructural development through education, adding that “the establishment of the four new polytechnics in the state is not a mere political statement”.

He explained that, “the benefits of establishing a higher institution in a place can never be overemphasized in view of the huge socio-economic expansion and the multiplier effect it would create in its host community”. He appealed to the people, particularly the youths for their full support when work eventually starts.

Speaking at the permanent site where the community provided a 3 square kilometer of land for the institution, Eghagha said he was satisfied with the sites and promised the people that work will simultaneously commence in all the four new polytechnics spread in the 3 senatorial district.

On his part, the Amananaowei of Bomadi mein kingdom lauded the executive governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan for sitting a state polytechnic in Bomadi, headquarters of the local government area. The traditional ruler and members of his Council of Chiefs expressed the people’s willingness to co-operate and support the state government effort at ensuring that the institution comes on stream.
The Amananaowei however urged the state government not to politicize the establishment of the schools, even as he appealed for its quick take off.

Other members of the committee are Prof. B.I.C Ijomah, Prof. B.I.F. Peretomode, Dr. A.D.A Ighoroje (Mrs.), Chief (Mrs.) Roselyn Egborage ¬ and Mr. S. P. Ukperi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education who is serving as Secretary of the committee.