Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has challenged tertiary institutions in the country to be prudent in the utilization of revenues they generate internally in order to attract more funding from government and other donors.
Governor Uduaghan, receiving the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Godwin Oshodin, on a courtesy call in Warri on Thursday singled out the management of UNIBEN for judiciously deploying internally generated revenue (IGR) into visible infrastructure and development of human capital.
“Let me congratulate you (VC) and thank you for all you have done and you are still doing for the university because looking at what you have presented, it shows that even with IGR a lot can be done,” he said.
Dr. Uduaghan who is the Visitor to the Delta State University observed, ” when you do a lot with what you are able to collect, we are encouraged to bring in more into the university system. So I want to thank you for what you have been doing with the internally generated revenue ”
He also commended the vice chancellor and the management team of the of the school for the enviable academic standard that the University of Benin has been reputed for over the years, explaining that it was a proof of the industry of the management and academic staff.
Governor Uduaghan noted, ” but beyond that is the fact that the university has maintained the standard and it continue to maintain the standard and that is why anytime you hear about University of Benin or the products of the university when they go out, they make their marks anywhere they are.
“That University of Benin is shoulders above other universities in Nigeria, shows how much effort you are putting in.
“Interestingly, last year, somebody called me that the girl who had the best result in the Law School in Abuja is a product of University of Benin…and I was quite proud. That shows how well we are doing as a University.
“So I want to thank you and through you thank the lecturers who have kept the flag flying because without the lecturers doing their work the students will not come out with flying colours.”
Governor Uduaghan promised to look into a request for the building of a conference hall or a hostel block made by the vice chancellor, ” in terms of support, be rest assured that I will give my support. I have seen your presentation. We will look at it and see what we can do with the request you have made. We will quickly get back to you with the area we can give the support”
Oshodin had commended Uduaghan, who is Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Advisory Committee, for the role he played in the ultra modern hostel built by the commission at the school, which was recently commissioned by the governor.
The Vice Chancellor told the Governor that the management decided to visit him as a distinguished alumnus of the institution to solicit his support in helping to build a conference hall or in the alternative a hostel block which will be named after him.
Prof. Oshodin informed the governor that he has judicially deployed IGR to embark on massive transformation of infrastructure and development of human capital in the school, adding that those efforts have received both national and international recognition.
