By Ebi Perekeme
The prospect of situating a Federal Polytechnic in Orogun, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State might have been boosted after the community donated 100 hectares of land for the take-off of the polytechnic.
A media report said Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege at a public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Polytechnic Orogun, 2019, said Orogun as the host community of this new institution is a great and perfect choice based on ‘centrality theory’.
Omo-Agege said the Orogun clan donated the 100 hectares landmass for the immediate development of academic infrastructure for the institution, stressing that with tens of active onshore oil wells and huge gas deposits, Orogun is one of the geese laying the golden eggs that sustain the nation’s giant economic strength for several decades now.
In his remarks at the public hearing, Senator Omo-Agege, popularly known as the Obarisi of Urhoboland said based on centrality, Orogun has a natural advantage of catering for the academic needs of Deltans without putting unbearable burdens on them.
Remarks of the Deputy Senate President at the public hearing:
1.0. Mr. Chairman and respected Colleagues of this Committee, thank you immensely for your admirable commitment to duty in organising this very important public hearing on the Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Polytechnic Orogun, 2019 (S.B. 25). As you know, I am the sponsor of this Bill on behalf of my good people of Delta Central whom I represent in the Senate with great pride, passion and love.
2.0. I first introduced this Bill in the 8th Senate. As at when I did then, it was the first and only Senate Bill proposing the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Delta State. I moved to sponsor this Bill then and again now in this 9th Senate because, like all senatorial constituencies, the Urhobo Ethnic Nationality of Delta Central Senatorial District as the 5th largest ethnic group in Nigeria, and indeed all Deltans, deservedly expect me as their voice here to negotiate fruitfully on their behalf, represent and defend their interests unreservedly, responsibly and courageously. Like every Distinguished Member of this Committee, I do not take these expectations lightly.
3.0. Mr. Chairman, the proposed Federal Polytechnic Orogun is conceived as an institution for academic excellence in fulfilment of the Federal Government’s policy of establishing at least one federal polytechnic in every State of the Federation. It will be an institution with an all-embracing statutory mandate to develop a wide range of professionals in Engineering and Technology, Social Sciences, Sciences, the Arts and Humanities, among others.
4.0. This Polytechnic is coming to resolve a huge challenge presently affecting a great majority of our otherwise qualified tertiary education admission seekers who are mainly products of Delta’s more than 1,126 public primary schools, 500 secondary schools and 1,000 private schools. Unlike their counterparts in many parts of the country, hundreds of these young Deltans who perform excellently well in entrance examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) are often denied admissions. Due to no fault of theirs, a great majority of these young Deltans are just abandoned or left behind in today’s stiff competition for career paths development. The justifications for this anomaly are often ‘quota’ and ‘catchment areas’ admission criteria.
5.0. Therefore, the Federal Polytechnic Orogun is a major strategic, thoughtful and necessary response to this challenge. It will create needed admission opportunities for young Nigerians and help us to better manage the social decay that often grows from the frustration of our future leaders who are unjustly denied access to the tertiary education they desperately need to shape their lives. It is for all Deltans and Nigerians.
6.0. Orogun as the host community of this new institution is a great and perfect choice. Based on ‘centrality theory’, Orogun sits at almost the center of Delta State. This peaceful agrarian clan is in Delta Central Senatorial District but has the unique advantage of sharing boundaries with both Delta South and North Senatorial Districts. In this regard, Orogun has a natural advantage of catering for the academic needs of our people without putting unbearable burdens on them. Very importantly, in terms of take-off readiness, a landmass in excess of 100 hectares has already been donated in Orogun Clan for the immediate development of academic infrastructure for the institution. In other words, for this Polytechnic, our people are right in adopting the slogan ‘Orogun is Ready.’
7.0. Mr. Chairman; Distinguished Colleagues, with tens of active onshore oil wells and huge gas deposits, Orogun Clan is one of the geese laying the golden eggs that sustain our nation’s giant economic strength for several decades now. I trust my Distinguished Colleagues would easily agree with our leaders and people in general that even for this alone, Orogun justifiably deserves some federal presence in return, and this Polytechnic is timely. Indeed, ‘Orogun is Ready.’
8.0. Finally, Mr. Chairman; Distinguished Colleagues, let me thank you once again for the privilege to make these few remarks. It is my earnest hope and fervent prayer that by your good work in conscientiously leading this due legislative process, our people would look back in history and say with confidence that they got what they rightly deserve. And that which they rightly deserve by this Bill, is the Federal Polytechnic Orogun.
9.0. Thank you and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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