Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Thursday, said establishment of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, Resource Centre at Isiokolo would boost development in Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Oborevwori stated this when he received on courtesy visit, the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Michael Omeru, CON, Ogurimerime, Ukori I, Agbon Chiefs and principal officers of FUPRE at Government House, Asaba.
The Governor commended Agbon Kingdom for donating 123.2 hectares of land to the university, while underscoring the importance of effective formal education to the well being of citizens.
While presenting the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the land to the University’,s management, the Governor said the C of O was issued at no cost as the goal of the proposed Research Centre reflects the desire and goals of his administration which places high premium on meaningful development in line with his M.O.R.E Agenda.
“Delta State is a university hub; we all know that and it didn’t start today. When I was the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, we passed the bill for the three universities created as at that time because we knew the importance of education.
“This is because if you acquire everything on Earth today without education, you are a no body. So, when I received the message of the kingdom donating land to the school and they requested for a waiver on the cost of the C of O, we did not hesitate to do that.
“We approved a waiver to the tune of N111.5 million and a ground rent of N18.4 million to enable you have the C of O, free of charge.
“We know that FUPRE is a specialised university and we also need it. Ethiope East is an oil- producing Local Government and it will also help to open up the area. The research centre will bring more development to the place, he said.”
He added: “On your request for internal roads and some buildings, we will assist at the appropriate time; your request has been noted. The request FUPRE made a few months back, very soon, contract for that road will be awarded because they have done the scooping”.
Earlier, the Ovie of Agbon Kingdom, HRM, Michael Omeru, CON, Ogurimerime Ukori I, who lauded the governor for his massive achievements in the implementation of his MORE Agenda and for his unflinching interest in the Research Centre of FUPRE approved for Isiokolo, told him that they were in Government House, Asaba, to acquaint him with the progress made by the kingdom towards effective take- off of the Research Centre of the university.
The Agbon monarch disclosed that his kingdom had, so far, donated a large expanse of land measuring 123.2 hectares to the university for which, he said, they had applied for the grant of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in favour of the university.
According to him, the existence of the university’s Research Centre at Isiokolo would add impetus to the governor’s vision and mission for the accelerated growth and development of the state.
He, therefore, appealed to the State Government for possible assistance with the provision of basic infrastructure such as construction of internal roads within the land donated by the community for the Research Centre, two blocks of 12 classrooms each, an administrative building and a 100- room hostel block.
“It is our belief that the effective take- off of FUPRE Research Centre at Isiokolo will enhance the educational and economic fortunes of our people and will, also, lead to the development of Isiokolo as a local government headquarters in particular and the state in general as most of our teeming youths will be gainfully employed, while ancillary businesses will strive in the area,” the monarch added.
The Agbon monarch was accompanied on the visit by the Chairman, Governing Council of the FUPRE, Engr. Bello Isah, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Arthur Akpowowo, the Chairman of Ethiope Local Government , Hon. Augustine Ogedegbe, Chief Brodericks Arigbodi and other traditional chiefs of Agbon Kingdom and the management team of the university.