The Delta State Representative to the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Monday Ovwigho Igbuya, on Friday, led officials of the Commission, to a site inspection of the abandoned NDDC hostel in Site III of Delta State University, Abraka Campus.
Receiving the NDDC team, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, praised Rt Hon Igbuya for his personal commitment to infrastructural development in the University.
The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof (Mrs.) Rosemary Okoh, noted that Rt. Hon. Igbuyas appointment to the Board of NDDC was a blessing to the University, Delta State and the Niger Delta region.
Professor Egwunyenga noted that the completion of the 522 bed spaces hostel, which was awarded in 2004 and abandoned in 2014, would go a long way in boosting the University’s provision of campus accommodation for her students.
He gave the visiting team the assurance that the University would respond immediately to the invitation from the NDDC Board Member to partner with the Commission by providing details of other areas of needs for necessary assistance within the powers of the Commission.
The Vice-Chancellor used the opportunity to formally invite the Commission to the Universitys 16th Convocation ceremony scheduled for April 27, 2024.
In his speech, Rt. Hon Igbuya, revealed that he led the site inspection team to the University in compliance with the directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that all abandoned NDDC projects in the country be completed.
He expressed his pleasure over his observation that students of the Delta State University are well-behaved as there are practically no reported cases of students disturbances, restiveness or involvement in cult and other such negative vices. He noted that, when completed, the hostel would give more students the opportunity to live on campus, and enhance their safety.
The NDDC Board member expressed optimism that the project, which was awarded in 2004 at a contract sum of N400,000,000 would be reviewed in light of the present economic realities, so that it could be commissioned before the end of the year given the level of cooperation from both the consultant and contractor under his close supervision.
Rt. Hon. Igbuya was accompanied on the site inspection by Mr. Onoriode Omo-Udoyo, Director, NDDC Delta State, other engineers from the Commission, and the contractor, Engr Chika Breben, who conducted the team round the project.
