Tuesday 11 July 2017

NOUN VC Becomes Isoko Chief, Inaugurates Oworhede Study Centre

Rebecca Ejifoma

The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, in the weekend became the newest chief in the Emevor Traditional Council, Delta State, following his conferment with a traditional chieftaincy title and installation as the Uruakpor of Emevor Kingdom by the Odion of Emevor, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Francis Onovughakpor Ekama.


The Odion, while performing the installation rites on the vice-chancellor, who holds a double professorial chair in Science Education and Cultural Communication, explained that hard work must be rewarded. He cited the outstanding contribution which Adamu had made towards the social and educational development of Emevor Kingdom, the Isoko nation, Delta State and the whole of Nigeria as the yardstick for his selection for the honour.


A visibly elated Adamu thanked the Odion, his council of elders, and the entire Emevor Kingdom for the confidence reposed in him to be so honoured. “I will soon secure a parcel of land to build his house in Emevor to enable him discharge his chieftaincy duties appropriately.”

The event of Saturday soon moved from the palace of the king to the permanent site the Emevor Study Centre of the NOUN, where the Fundraising/Foundation Laying Ceremony organized by the Emevor Study Centre Implementation Committee took place.


The ceremony which attracted the Who-Is-Who in Emevor and the Isoko ethnic nationality, was also graced by the Delta State governor, His Excellency Dr. Ifeanyi  Okowa, who was represented by the Acting Governor Deacon Barr. Kingsley Otuaro.

The governor thanked the vice-chancellor and management of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for siting a study centre of the institution in Emevor and pledged the commitment of his administration to ensure that the study centre attains an enviable standard.

Adamu, in his speech as the Chief Guest of Honour, explained that Delta State is very special to the NOUN, especially because, “Delta state boasts of the highest number of students in the university nationwide.”

He also seized the opportunity to inform the cheering crowd that the National Assembly has passed the amended Act of Parliament establishing the university in which clauses precluding graduates of the university from participating in the Nigerian Law School and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been removed.

While the foundation of the administrative block at the permanent site of the study centre was jointly laid by the representative of the governor and the vice-chancellor, Adamu also inaugurated the administrative block and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre of the Owohrede Community Study Centre of NOUN also in Delta State.

Therefore, he called on the people of Owohrede “to own” the study centre and nurture it for the development of the community and its people. While pledging an unflinching support of the central management of the university towards the actualisation of the mandate of the university in the community, he reminded them that it was the policy of the university to draw all junior cadre personnel from the host community. An indigene of the community was given automatic employment at the occasion as was also done earlier in the day at Emevor.

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