ARISE News Channel Gives Western Delta University N1bn for Media & Technology School.

At its 15th Founders’ Day celebrations and lecture, Western Delta University, Oghara, Ethiope West local government area (LGA) of Delta state received substantial monetary donations and offers of various forms of assistance.

The Chairman of THISDAY/ARISE News Channel, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, threw open the financial floodgates when he announced a N1 billion donation on behalf of the news channel to Western Delta University for the establishment of a Media and Technology School to aid in the development of the university.

Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the recently concluded general election, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, both consented to become visiting lecturers at the Western Delta University (WDU), Oghara, Delta State, at the same event.

The students and other visitors who crowded the lecture hall at one point became frantic as they swarmed Obi, Obaigbena, and Fayemi.The founder of THISDAY stated that ARISE News Channel donated one billion Nigerian naira to Western Delta University to assist it in its efforts to establish a premier institution committed to excellence in all areas of academic learning, technological development, and social service.

Obaigbena, speaking at the event, described former Delta Governor and university founder Chief James Onanefe Ibori as a longtime friend and a people-focused leader who is always willing to sacrifice for the development of his people.

Obaigbena, who eulogized Ibori, also praised him for his large heart and great vision in establishing the university, noting that operating a university is expensive and promoters do it for development rather than profit.

He stated that he attended the 15th Western Delta University Founders’ Day celebration “to celebrate with and encourage a friend who is giving back to society what it needed to grow.”Ibori, the visitor to the university and former governor of Delta State who personally welcomed Obaigbena, drew thunderous applause from the people, and Dele Momodu, the Publisher of Ovasion Magazine, stated that if it were the election period, issues would have been made out of the invitation due to the presence of Fayemi, a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Obi.

He stated that building an institution like Western Delta University, which was established to promote intellectual development on par with the finest in the world, necessitated the collaboration of individuals and resources outside the scope of party affiliation.

Ibori pleaded with Obaigbena to help construct Western Delta University and make it one of Nigeria’s finest private universities.Fayemi, who delivered the lecture at the well-attended event titled “Sub-National Governance, the Ekiti State Example,” pledged to establish a School of Policy Implementation within the institution.

In addition, he vowed to become the school’s first lecturer once construction is complete. Ibori, the university’s guest, urged Obi, whom he characterized as a seasoned leader who has made significant contributions to nation-building, to join Fayemi as a lecturer upon completion of the policy school.Obi consented to assist in its establishment and serve as a visiting professor.

In his speech, Fayemi, citing personal examples from his time as governor of Ekiti State, exhorted political officeholders to ensure balance when making appointments and avoid the pitfalls of choosing individuals who would become government liabilities. He added, “One of the most significant challenges every governor will confront early on is making crucial appointments.

In addition to ethnic and religious balance challenges, you also have political debts to satisfy.”Every governor will have to strike a balance between appointing core politicians who participated in the long and arduous political struggle that brought him or her to office, and appointing technocrats who will be required to carry out specific tasks for the efficient operation of the government.

This is something every new governor must always keep in mind, despite the fact that the local political context will determine the optimal balance. However, it is always beneficial to be aware of your top priorities. This will help you determine which appointments you can use for political gain and which you must designate to the most qualified candidates.”Fayemi continued, “The equilibrium is that you cannot take everything away from politics, nor can you give everything to politics.

My experience has taught me that regardless of whether one is a government technocrat or a central politician, all political appointees must have a strong connection to their communities. Otherwise, they will become the governor’s liability.”His administration was able to improve the state’s infrastructure despite the state’s declining revenue, particularly due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in the price of crude oil.

He added that Ekiti State was in the doldrums when he assumed office due to an onslaught of obstacles. He stated that his administration was able to restore the state’s renowned fundamental values and return it to the path of development.”In government, there are three major ways to earn money. You can either earn it, grovel for it, or borrow it. What you earn from internal revenues and investment assets is what you earn.”Your receipts from the Federation Account and any grants you may receive from international development agencies are unearned revenues, which I have classified as begging proceeds.

Then your borrowings are the bank loans, infrastructure bonds, etc. that you are able to obtain.”At the time of my takeover, Ekiti was in dire straits across the board. This was the moment when oil prices fell on the international market, resulting in a significant decrease in oil revenues to the federation account.

“The IGR of Ekiti was nothing to write home about, as it was N100 million per month when I assumed office. And to make matters worse, it was also a time when trade unions agitated for an increase in the minimum wage, with little or no support from multilateral and bilateral support agencies.”Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, urged political officeholders to transcend political partisanship, tribal allegiances, and religious preferences in their contributions to the development of the society.Even though he belonged to a different political party than the Visitor to the University, Ibori, and Fayemi, he attended the event due to his passion for education and its impact on the nation’s development.

Obi emphasized that political parties should present credible candidates based on their character, expertise, integrity, and emulation-worthy track records.”When given the opportunity to serve, they must do so without resorting to any form of prejudice,” he emphasized.

He wished the students success in their academic endeavors and encouraged them to remain dedicated to their studies. Earlier in his introduction, Ibori described Obi as his younger sibling, who was invited due to his prodigious talent and desire for human resource development.

Obi acknowledged Ibori’s reference to him as a junior sibling and pledged to contribute to the overall development of Western Delta University. Obi’s presence elicited loud applause and a brief outburst of unruly behavior from the guests, who were primarily students. He accepted Ibori’s invitation to lecture at the school so that he could impart his exceptional entrepreneurial expertise to the students.

Others who donated to Western Delta University include: Senator Chief Ighoyota Amori (N250,000); Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin (N5 million); Chief Greg Ighere (unknown amount); Chief Williams Makinde (unknown amount); Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his family (unknown amount); and Chief Greg Ighere (unknown amount).

Prof. Augustine Ovuoronye Ikelegbe, vice chancellor of the university, stated that the purpose of the Founder’s Day Lecture was to highlight the institution’s journey thus far in providing educational training and preparing students for future professions.

Uduaghan presided over the event, which was attended by the publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, as well as numerous academics, legislators, and business leaders.