More Students, More Facilities: Delta Steps Up Investment In State Universities — Aniagwu
DELTA State has intensified investment in university infrastructure as more students seek admission into its state-owned institutions.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this on Saturday during an inspection of the Faculty of Management Sciences and Social Sciences building at Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba.
He was accompanied by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, and the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Aghalino.
Aniagwu said the project reflects the state government’s effort to expand facilities in response to growing enrolment.
As more young people seek university admission, he explained, existing lecture halls, offices and other facilities face increasing pressure.
Therefore, he said the government had made infrastructure development a key part of its higher education programme.
The commissioner stressed that improving university capacity required more than recruiting academic and non-academic staff.
In addition, he said institutions needed adequate classrooms, offices, libraries and other facilities to create an environment where students and lecturers could work effectively.
Aniagwu disclosed that similar projects were ongoing at the other state-owned universities.
He added that the projects were particularly targeted at institutions established around the same period as Dennis Osadebay University and were spread across the three senatorial districts.
Although some finishing work remained, he said the quality of the project inspected in Asaba had impressed the government.
Aniagwu also linked the infrastructure programme to the administration’s broader project-delivery agenda.
With political activities increasing ahead of the 2027 elections, he said the government would continue to focus on projects that could be assessed through their physical results.
“Our campaign is going to be evidence-based,” he said, adding that the university project represented part of that evidence.
Tonukari said the expansion had become necessary because of the state’s growing demand for tertiary education.
He recalled that the government established three universities to provide more opportunities for Deltans seeking admission.
According to him, the expansion has also improved students’ experience across the institutions.
Aghalino similarly described the new faculty building as a significant intervention.
He said the facility would provide additional academic and administrative space for both students and lecturers.
Moreover, he described the building as a state-of-the-art structure with a library and other modern facilities.
The vice-chancellor expressed gratitude to the state government, saying the project would help address some of the university’s longstanding infrastructure needs.
