SENATE PUBLIC HEARING: Federal Polytechnic, Orogun Will Help Address Youth Restiveness In N/Delta – OVIE Omo-Agege
The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND has
held a public hearing on the Bill for an Act to establish the Federal
Polytechnic Orogun, 2019 (S.B. 25) sponsored by His Excellency, Deputy
President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
Speaking at the public hearing, Senator Omo-Agege
along with several academics, traditional rulers and opinion leaders emphasized
vibrant support for the proposed institution. Increased availability of
technical and vocational education should be part of core strategies towards
permanently addressing youth restiveness and boosting oil and gas production in
the Niger Delta, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and
other stakeholders have said.
Declaring the event open, the President of the Senate, Senator
Ahmad Lawan noted that it was remarkable that out of numerous memoranda
received for the public hearing, there was no single objection to proposals for
the establishment of the institution. Senator Lawan was represented by the
Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Robert Ajayi Borrofice. Sponsor of the bill and
senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Omo-Agege explained
that he sponsored the bill in response to constituents’ yearnings while several
stakeholders who attended the public hearing emphasized further justifications
for the move. Omo-Agege said: “I moved to sponsor this Bill because, like all
senatorial constituencies, the Urhobo ethnic nationality of Delta Central
Senatorial District as the 5th largest ethnic group in Nigeria, and indeed all
Deltans, deservedly expect me as their voice here to negotiate fruitfully on
their behalf, represent and defend their interests unreservedly, responsibly
and courageously. Like every Distinguished Member of this Committee, I do not
take these expectations lightly.
“The proposed Federal
Polytechnic Orogun is conceived as an institution for academic excellence in
fulfillment of the Federal Government’s policy of establishing at least one
federal polytechnic in every State of the Federation. It will be an institution
with an all-embracing statutory mandate to develop a wide range of
professionals in Engineering and Technology, Social Sciences, Sciences, the
Arts and Humanities, among others. “This Polytechnic is coming to resolve a
huge challenge presently affecting a great majority of our otherwise qualified
tertiary education admission seekers who are mainly products of Delta’s more
than 1,126 public primary schools, 500 secondary schools and 1,000 private
schools.
“Unlike their counterparts in
many parts of the country, hundreds of these young Deltans who perform
excellently well in entrance examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions
Matriculation Board (JAMB) are often denied admissions. “Due to no fault of
theirs, a great majority of these young Deltans are just abandoned or left
behind in today’s stiff competition for career paths development. The
justifications for this anomaly are often ‘quota’ and ‘catchment areas’
admission criteria. “Therefore, the Federal Polytechnic Orogun is a major
strategic, thoughtful and necessary response to this challenge. It will create
needed admission opportunities for young Nigerians and help us to better manage
the social decay that often grows from the frustration of our future leaders
who are unjustly denied access to the tertiary education they desperately need
to shape their lives. It is for all Deltans and Nigerians,” He also stressed
that the choice of Orogun as a central location was based on relevant
considerations, including the availability of oil wells in its communities
which have been lacking federal presence that can benefit the people directly.
“With tens of active onshore
oil wells and huge gas deposits, Orogun Clan is one of the geese laying the
golden eggs that sustain our nation’s giant economic strength for several
decades now. I trust my Distinguished Colleagues would easily agree with our
leaders and people in general that even for this alone, Orogun justifiably
deserves some federal presence in return, and this Polytechnic is timely,"
he said. In his presentation, Professor Samuel Ibodje submitted that the
establishment of the institution will be of great social and economic
enhancement to the State, in particular, the South-South geopolitical zone and
the country in general. While stressing that the establishment of a Federal
Polytechnic in Delta State is long overdue, he said this would "ensure
real local contents through effective community participation in the oil
industry, reduce unemployment through skill acquisition and stem the growing
tide of youth restiveness in the state and the entire South-South region".
Also, the Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Federal University of Petroleum Resources,
Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh said the proposed polytechnic will satisfy the
yearnings of admission seekers, provide the needed manpower for the oil and gas
industry as well as boost socio-economic activities in the area. Others who
spoke in support of the bill include Professor Temi Akponunor, Dr. Augustine
Ebiai from the Nigerian Army University in Biu and Dr. (Mrs) Veronica Ogbuagu,
former Commissioner for Education in Delta State. Chairman of the committee,
Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita disclosed that the committee was not in receipt of
submissions against the establishment of the institution. Traditional rulers at
the event include the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, Orhue 1, Maj. Gen. Felix
Mujakperue; Okiemute Onajite, Igere 1, Ovie of Ogor Kingdom as well as Richard
Ebele, Okorefe 1, Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom.
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