It was a festival of sorts as Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Delta State commissioned an ultra-modern 14,000 seater capacity stadium built by the management of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Council Area yesterday.
The commissioning of the stadium which attracted visitors from within and outside the state was part of a harvest of project commissioning which also included three (3 No.) Laboratory buildings for Science Laboratory Technology department, a model banking hall for banking and finance department, a block of Engineering workshop/laboratory for the department of Chemical Engineering Technology, Wheel balancing/alignment workshop for Centre for Entrepreneurial Education, upgraded/restructured Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro main gate, fire-fighting station building, fire-fighting truck and backup truck and 2 kilometre campus road.
Addressing the capacity-filled stadium shortly after commissioning it and other completed projects in the school, Okowa commended the management of the school led by the Rector, Dr. J.S. Oboreh and the Governing Council led by the chairman, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon for their prudent financial management and accountability, noting that their ability to deliver the projects on time was a mark of the synergy and cooperation between the management and governing councils.
The governor used the occasion to urge the management of other tertiary institutions in the state to emulate a good example of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, stressing that although times are hard economically, there is the need to be prudent in managing the little at their disposal.
The chairman of the governing council of the institution, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, in his address, thanked the Governor, Okowa for giving members of the council the opportunity to serve the state in that capacity.
“On behalf of members of the Governing Council of the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, I wish to once again appreciate and thank His Excellency for the opportunity given us to serve Delta State in our present capacity and make our contributions to the development of the polytechnic in particular and Delta State in general”, Funkekeme said.
Funkekeme recalled the charge given to the Council when it was inaugurated on October 19, last year, stressing that it was the tonic that they needed for them to put in their best to ensure that the vision and mission of the school were achieved. He noted with satisfaction that the cooperation between the Council and the management culminated into what has now transformed to the harvest of completed projects.
In his address, the Rector of the Delta Polytechnic, Ozoro, Dr. J.S. Oboreh also thanked the governor, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa copiously for his approval and release of N100 million which formed a strategic financial assistance that ensured the completion of the stadium.
Said he: “It will be recalled that when Your Excellency visited the Polytechnic for the purpose of gracing the Second Convocation Ceremony of the school and commissioning of projects executed by the Polytechnic with internally-generated revenue, you laid the foundation of this Olympic size stadium.
“Your Excellency also promised on behalf of the Delta State Government to support the Polytechnic in the execution of the Stadium project with the sum of One hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000) which you graciously released within two weeks from the date of the promise in spite of the dwindling revenue profile of the state.
“We were astonished and encouraged by that singular gesture from Your Excellency and to this, we remain immensely grateful to you for your magnanimity and love for the Polytechnic.”
The Rector reeled out the achievement of the institution under him to include remarkable academic development, infrastructure and personnel, ascribing the feat to the support of the governor, the governing council of the school, staff and management and the students.
He, however, appealed to the governor to still continue with his support to enable the management to complete the ongoing construction of a 1000 capacity auditorium in the school.
Fielding question from newsmen on the occasion, the Commissioner for Power and Energy in the State, Mr. Neworld Safugha commended the Governor for his support to the institution even as he thanked the Rector for his prudent management and financial sagacity, urging other tertiary schools in the state to emulate the standard which the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro has set.
The high point of the ceremony was the commissioning of the stadium and other building projects including a 2-kilometre road within the school.
Present at the occasion were the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator James Manager, the House of Representative member representing Isoko South and Isoko North in the National Assembly, Hon. Leo Ogor, the State PDP chairman, Olorogun Barr. Kingsley Esiso, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Engr. Jude Sinebe, the Secretary to the State government, Hon. Festus Ovie Agas, serving commissioners, amongst others.
Meanwhile, a football match played between the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro ended goallessly.
