University Of Africa Matriculates 370, as Dickson Calls For Patronage

370 students were registered into the University Of Africa (UOA) Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State on Thursday, at the first University’s matriculation ceremony, as the Governor of Bayelsa state, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson called for patronage from elites.

Governor Dickson, who made the call in his home town, Toru-Orua, which hosts the institution, while addressing the new intakes of the University, added  he would not be in office the governor of the state when they (students) as pioneers, will graduate.

Dickson said, “The Constitution does not permit me to run for third term, if not, I know that all of u here would have voted for me.”

Dickson said UOA should look inwards in generating funds, even though the government will support it in allocating subventions, loans and creating the enabling environment for the institution to grow.

“I commend the school management for starting the school with few non- academic staff that will service efficiently.

“The confusion created in the Niger Delta University (NDU) is a deliberate one by some persons who do not mean well for NDU.

“UOA is run and funded by the Bayelsa state government like the NDU, that have stood the test of time.” Dickson added.

Earlier at the public lecture series, the Chairman of the Education Trust Fund Board, Prof. Turner Isoun said, “motivation and curiosity” are the drivers of success in human endeavors.

Prof. Isoun, who commended Governor Dickson for establishing an institution with foreign architecture said, the institution must come with an innovation because without innovation, academic excellence will not come to play.

Isoun said, “The Bayelsa state tertiary education loan will give the less privileged students of the state, a leverage to access loans for their education and to pay back later, after graduation.

“With this, no Bayelsa indigene will have an excuse not to be educated except otherwise.”

By Daniel Domotimi

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