The Delta State Government has commended the Vice-Chancellor of Southern Delta University (SDU), Ozoro, Professor Jacob Oboreh, for his exemplary leadership, prudent resource management, and rapid transformation of the institution into a model of academic excellence and infrastructural development.
The praise was delivered on Thursday, January 29, 2026, by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, during a comprehensive inspection tour of ongoing and completed projects at the university campus in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area. The tour was conducted ahead of SDU’s maiden convocation ceremony scheduled for February 2026.
Accompanied by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, and top officials from both ministries, Aniagwu described SDU as a shining example of effective university management under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration. He particularly lauded Professor Oboreh for sustaining and deepening the transformation of the former Delta State Polytechnic into a full-fledged university.
“This is a university that has grown from strength to strength in barely four years. The peaceful academic environment, absence of industrial actions, and visible infrastructural strides reflect deliberate efforts by the State Government and the university management to provide adequate facilities and conducive conditions for staff and students,” Aniagwu said.
He observed that the cordial relationship between management, staff, and students was evident in the free interaction across campus and the Vice-Chancellor’s ability to move without heavy security. “When people talk about strikes in universities, it is not always about salaries. In many cases, it is about facilities and the learning environment. What we have seen here explains why institutions in Delta State rarely go on strike,” he added.
Aniagwu disclosed that Governor Oborevwori was highly pleased with SDU’s progress, which had made it easier for the state to provide consistent subventions for salaries, emoluments, and capital projects. He noted that the university now has a student population exceeding 13,000, attributing the rapid growth to effective planning, modern facilities, and a strong emphasis on practical, hands-on learning.
“What makes this university unique is that students are not only taught theory; they are involved in practical construction work. By the time they graduate, many of them are already skilled builders and professionals,” the commissioner said, pointing to student participation in campus construction projects where they earn stipends while gaining real-world experience.
He also praised the quality of construction works executed by the university, citing interlocked roads built two years ago that have withstood heavy vehicular traffic and environmental stresses without significant deterioration. Aniagwu dismissed earlier doubts about Delta State’s capacity to manage multiple universities, asserting: “We have shown that Delta State has the capacity to run its universities and run them well.”
Commissioner for Higher Education Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, who also inspected facilities, declared that SDU is fully prepared to commence postgraduate programmes. He described the university’s growth as a clear reflection of Governor Oborevwori’s “Opportunities for All” agenda in education, noting that the current student population represents thousands of young people productively engaged rather than idle.
Prof. Tonukari commended the Vice-Chancellor for prudent use of internally generated revenue (IGR) to drive infrastructure development and revealed that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had approved additional academic programmes for SDU. He highlighted the state government’s continued support through salary payments, accreditation funding, and institutional backing, even as universities operate autonomously.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Jacob Oboreh attributed the institution’s rapid strides to a combination of government funding, strategic IGR deployment, donor partnerships, and strict accountability. He stressed that government subventions alone were insufficient for a modern university’s needs, explaining that SDU had deliberately complemented state support with revenue from tuition, services, and donations while adhering to value-for-money principles.
Among the projects inspected were:
Principal Officers’ Quarters;
1. A two-storey Faculty of Science complex (built through direct labour) with 126 staff offices, well-equipped laboratories, two lecture theatres, and an ICT centre;
2. A block of science laboratories housing eight fully functional labs to strengthen practical training;
3. A 1,200-seater ultra-modern auditorium, abandoned since 2012, now completed and furnished, accommodating two lecture halls and 17 staff offices;
4. Donor-funded Pa James Odhokpa Izomor Engineering Workshops (₦1 billion commitment by Engr. Godwin Odoba Izomor), including 10 engineering workshops, additional studios, and technical training facilities;
5. Two new hostel blocks (male and female) with combined capacity for about 1,000 students, prioritized due to security concerns in the host community;
6. The ultra-modern Orerokpe Campus, housing the Central Administrative Building, Faculties of Arts, Social Sciences and Law, staff housing, solar-powered electricity, and comprehensive water reticulation.
Professor Oboreh disclosed that recent accreditation teams from Abuja rated the Orerokpe Campus as one of the best they had inspected in recent times, confirming it met all requirements as a complete campus of Southern Delta University.
He urged collective ownership of the institution, stating: “Our responsibility is to build an institution that will serve present and future generations. This university is our collective inheritance.”
The inspection tour and commendations reflect growing confidence in SDU’s trajectory under Professor Oboreh’s leadership. With its maiden convocation approaching, the university is positioning itself as a flagship tertiary institution in Delta State, combining academic rigour, practical training, and rapid infrastructural expansion to meet the demands of a modern workforce and contribute to the state’s socio-economic development.
