Patriot Dantes Odogwu.

The focal point of the board was to consolidate on the gains of the preceding years and evolve better ways of delivering financial support service to our clients (students).

The achievement of the board for the year under review for the various scheme include the following;

EXECUTION OF CAPITAL PROJECTS:

The Ministry places a great deal of emphasis on successful executions of projects approved for implementation in the budget. To this end, the State Government through the Ministry has spent the sum of N3,613,056,248.07 on the execution of the three completed projects and on-going projects.


Completion of Faculty of Law - at DELSU, Oleh Campus which His Excellency has commissioned

Completion of the Health Clinic at DELSU, Anwai Campus

On-going projects:- Work is still on-going on the following contracts;


Construction of Lecture Theatre at the Faculty of Engineering, DELSU Oleh Campus;

Construction of Senate/Administration Building, DELSU, Abraka;

Construction of Health Clinic at DELSU, Oleh Campus;

Construction of External works at the Faculty of Engineering, DELSU, Oleh Campus;

Construction of Workshop/Laboratory (A) at the Faculty of Engineering, DELSU, Oleh Campus;

Construction of Workshop/Laboratory (B) at the Faculty of Engineering, DELSU, Oleh Campus;

Construction of Workshop/Laboratory (C) at the Faculty of Engineering, DELSU, Oleh Campus;

Construction of Faculty of Science Building, DELSU, Abraka;

Construction of standard Library Complex at Asaba;

Construction of standard Library Complex at Sapele;

HOSTEL DEVELOPMENT (PPP):

The Ministry is in the process of developing hostel accommodation in all State Owned Tertiary Institutions with the capacity to accommodate 60% - 80% of the student population via Public Private Partnership (PPP) on build operate transfer concession (BOT). As at date, the Ministry has engaged two Consultants to drive the process following the approval from the State Executive Council for the project.

Approval was granted for the development of two pairs of blocks of hostels (one male, one female). Each block is to have a minimum of 102 rooms and is expected to accommodate 408 students. Therefore, both block will have a total of 204 rooms and accommodate 816 students. The number of blocks in pairs that could be built in each Institution will be decided on a case by case basis as determined by need. The proposed hostel blocks in all Tertiary Institutions will be uniform and construction will be expected to be completed within record time from award of contract.

　

. ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION (CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH SEMINAR/WORKSHOP):

Partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant(ACCA): The Ministry has granted approval to the request by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) to partner with the ministry in the areas of events, seminars and other activities as it relates to students and youth development and advancement in the state.

DELTA STATE BURSARY AND SCHOLARSHIP BOARD

The Board currently offers over 7 windows of opportunities for students to access the state Government Financial Support Services. They include the following but some of these are on hold due to the economic situation in the country;

Student’s Special Assistance Scheme.

Scholarship to local

Scholarship Oversea/External

First Class Scholarship.

Financial Assistance to students in the Nigerian Law School.

Scholarship for Physically Challenged Students and Children of Deceased Civil Servants.

External Scholarship Services; BEA and Commonwealth Scholarship programme, agbami scholarship, e.t.c.

Students Special Assistance Scheme

This scheme was introduced and approved by the State Government to replace the popular bursary regime. The Board is currently paying the 2013/2014 academic year to the students who registered and was verified by their institution. So far the board has paid over 12,000 students from 62 institutions with the sum of N250,000,000.00 at the rate of 20,000.00 per student.

The feat was as result of the State Government approval of the sum of N400,000,000.00 for the scheme and the registration exercise for the next academic year is in process. Of the N400,000,000.00, about N250,000,000.00 has been spent with the balance yet to be released. The sum of 347,000,000.00 has also been approved for the 2015/2016 academic session for which the exercise has commenced, awaiting release of fund.

　

Scholarship Local

This scheme covers students in undergraduate, masters and Ph.D programme in Nigerian University. It might interest you to know that the State Government gave N100,000.00 each to the 385 undergraduate, N200,000.00 each to 104 masters degree category and N300,000.00 to Ph.D category. The State Government has paid all the beneficiaries of this scheme that commenced from 2010. In 2015, 40 Ph.D beneficiaries were paid their second tranche from the 2011 Ph.D programme beneficiaries who are also expecting their final payment.

　

Scholarship for children of deceased civil servants, physically challenged students.

It is imperative to note that the policy of granting scholarship to children of Deceased Civil Servants/Physically challenged students is a culture the State inherited from the defunct Bendel State and has been a tradition in the state since creation.

The state government has always given scholarship to children of deceased civil servants who died in active service and physically challenged students who are in school.

The State Government gives each awardee in the primary school N20,000.00. Secondary school N30,000.00 and Tertiary Institutions N50,000.00.

It may interest you to note that for year 2013/2014 academic session, the board in 2016 paid 285 beneficiaries of children of deceased civil servant.

Seeing street lighting returning to Warri metropolis, Uvwie, Udu areas, I rate Okowa well!

I must commend the road rehabilitation works but much more needs to be done, especially in the urban areas of the state...Asaba, Sapele, Ughelli, Kwale, Ozoro, Oleh, Oghara!

Okowa should give serious attention to flood management projects in the urban centres of the state, especially Asaba and Warri.

I wish him goodluck!