Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has challenged tertiary institutions in the state to produce job-ready graduates and research capable of solving real-world problems.

The Governor gave the charge through the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, at the 3rd Delta State Higher Education Summit.

Tonukari said enrolment in Delta’s state-owned tertiary institutions had increased from slightly above 50,000 in 2023 to more than 100,000, while the state government had employed over 1,250 academic and non-academic staff.

He said government had also invested in laboratories, faculties, hostels, administrative buildings and accreditation.

However, the commissioner stressed that increased access to higher education must translate into measurable outcomes. “Access is only the beginning. The question before us is: what are we doing with this opportunity?”

Delta Tertiary Institutions Urged to Prioritise Employability

Tonukari urged institutions to align their curricula with the changing economy and equip students with digital, entrepreneurial, communication and critical-thinking skills.

He called for stronger partnerships with industry through SIWES, internships, entrepreneurship programmes and industry-sponsored research.

The commissioner also urged institutions to focus research on pressing challenges including flooding, healthcare, agriculture, environmental degradation, fisheries and economic diversification.

He said research should move beyond academic publications to produce patents, technologies, products, services and policies that can benefit government, industry and communities.

Tonukari further encouraged tertiary institutions to develop areas of specialisation, embrace artificial intelligence responsibly and explore additional revenue through research grants, consultancy, professional programmes and intellectual property.

He charged vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts to build distinctive institutions capable of preparing students for a rapidly changing economy.

He stressed that stronger collaboration among government, academia and industry would be essential to making Delta’s tertiary institutions drivers of employment, innovation and sustainable development.