Delta State Government says no university in Nigeria, federal or state, is as funded as Delta State University, DELSU.
Commissioner for Higher Education in the state, Professor Patrick Muoboghare stated this in Asaba while briefing journalists.
The commissioner, who disclosed that notions raised by the opposition party over the creation of three universities were borne out of sentiments, added that Delta State owned universities were models to other universities across the country.
“When universities went on strike, the issues the other universities went on strike for are issues that had been taken care of in the state. No Government university in Nigeria is better funded than Delta State University. No University in Nigeria pays better salaries regularly to lecturers” he said.
He noted that the allegations raised by the opposition party that the state has not funded DELSU adequately and the government was triggering brain drain from DELSU to one of the newly established universities, were the direct opposite of the realities of the approved institutions.
According to him, “The time for politicking has passed since 2019 when the governor was seeking re-election”.
While recalling the allegations which stated that the newly approved universities were to de-market the existing Delta State University, Abraka, the commissioner said the new universities were established to meet the needs of teeming students of the state who jostle for admission without success.
“The three universities were made to meet the needs of qualified students who have not been able to gain admission. In 2019, out of 25, 000 students that applied, we could only give admission to 5, 000 students. Others were left unattended to,” he disclosed.
He also noted that the idea of Public Private Partnership, PPP, being adopted by the government is not a disguise to sell the universities to individuals, but a system that allows private persons to partner with the state government in the area of building hostels in the universities, for instance, to manage them for 30 years before handing over to the universities.
He expressed belief that by doing so the state would get the desired quality because government cannot do it alone.