Otuaro Describes Clark’s Decision To Own Varsity In N’Delta As Visionary

Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro says “the now realized vision of elder statesman, Chief Dr Edwin Clark, to establish a university to better the lot of Niger Delta and Nigerians, was commendable”.

Otuaro spoke, weekend, at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government Area.

Appreciating the University Council’s acknowledgement of the support of the Delta State government for ECU, Otuaro assured: “The Delta State government as part of its educational policy will continue to offer its contributions and collaboration in order to advance the great cause for which the university was established”.

He congratulated the graduands and urged them to be great ambassadors of the university.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that you have seamlessly passed through the required tutelage.

“You have been built through character and learning. We expect that you strive in that great path wherever you find yourself in this country or beyond”.

The Deputy Governor advised the graduands who are of Delta State origin who made First Class grade in ECU, Kiagbodo, to leverage on the Delta State Government Post-Graduate Scholarship programme for further studies.

In his remarks, Clark, a nonagenerian and Founder/Chancellor of Edwin Clark University (ECU) said “as an educationist and former Federal Commissioner for Information in whose stint University of Benin was founded, I have always wanted to establish a university to provide quality education for Nigerians.

According to him, “This great idea came into realization at the age of 85 years when I revealed my desire to apply for a license to establish a university which will fulfill my dream of opening up the Niger Delta region educationally and attract youth, men and women to the oil rich region in search for knowledge”.

Pro-Chancellor of ECU, Prof. E. J. Alagoa had earlier thanked the Okowa-led Delta State Government and the Henry Dickson-led Bayelsa State Government for respectively providing a Studio and Building for Mass Communication Department for the Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo.

The institution graduated 41 students 7 of which made First Class while 18 and 16 of them respectively made 2nd Class upper and lower divisions, according to the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Timothy Olagbemiro.

“The ECU vision and mission in reviving the lost core values of integrity, respect, obedience, service, love and care in societal value system, has been a great global challenge”, the Vice Chancellor emphasized.