WARRI/Nigeria: A Delta-born Ijaw leader and environmental rights activist, Chief Mulade Sheriff, PhD, has appealed to the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to consider appointing an Ijaw indigene as the next Vice-Chancellor of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, in the interest of fairness, inclusion and balanced representation.
Mulade said the call was necessitated by what he described as the persistent absence of Ijaw representation in the leadership of the state’s new universities, despite the community’s contributions to their establishment and development.
The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom noted that no Ijaw person has so far held the position of Vice-Chancellor or occupied any principal officer role in the state-owned universities, even though the ethnic group has produced several professors with proven academic integrity, administrative competence and professional experience.
He expressed confidence that appointing an Ijaw Vice-Chancellor would correct perceived neglect and promote inclusivity in the management of higher institutions, giving the Ijaw people a stronger sense of belonging in Delta State’s educational architecture.
“Ijaw members were part of the Management Council that facilitated the establishment of these universities and contributed significantly to the development of Southern Delta University. The Ijaw community has several qualified candidates — professors with experience, some of whom have served the Delta State Government and possess the requisite academic integrity, administrative competence and professionalism. We have several qualified professors with impeccable administrative and academic acumen,” Mulade said.
He added that it was imperative for the governor to address what he described as a long-standing imbalance, stressing that the Ijaw nation had yet to host any state university despite its immense economic contributions to the state.
“It is imperative to call on our dynamic governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to give the Ijaw a sense of belonging. The appointment of a Vice-Chancellor from Ijaw extraction would address the perceived neglect of the Ijaw community and promote representation and inclusivity in university leadership,” the Ijaw leader said.
Mulade expressed optimism that the governor would consider the appeal in the overall interest of equity, unity and sustainable development of tertiary education in Delta State.
