Education

DELSU, Egwunyenga and Leadership

Published

3 years ago

05/05/2023

By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi

It is a pedestrian knowledge that the Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, on Saturday, April 29, 3023, held its 15th convocation that produced 58 first-class graduands with Obuseh Emmanuel Ewere of Electrical/Electronic Engineering emerging the Overall Best Graduating Student with a C.G.P.A of 4.91.

What is, however, newsy is that the week-long event, which was held with varying activities, has, more than anything else, revealed two separate but similar developments within the institution.

First, the convocation ceremony provided guests made up of parents, media professionals, development professionals and critical stakeholders the opportunity to come in contact with Professor Andy Ogochukwu Egwunyenga, the self-contained, result-oriented and quietly influential Vice Chancellor of the university.

Secondly and very key, through the celebration, guests got new awareness of how DELSU has through democratized academic and infrastructural provisions backed by transformative and visionary leadership, become the fourth-ranked best state-owned university in the country.

This particular claim is further evident in the institution’s permanent site (Campus Three), which is visibly dotted with world-class infrastructures and state-of-the-art learning facilities, with so many ongoing constructions nearing completion.

While it will not be characterized as an overstatement if a first-time visitor to the school describes DELSU as an institution that is headed for the top, one undiluted fact stands out; the sustainable development and the effects of the leadership Professor Egwunyenga has brought to the school will definitely live beyond him and his administration.

This particular understanding came into view recently after listening with rapt attention to his use of vivid evidence and carefully carved emotional match to demonstrate how humility, cordial relationship with staff (teaching and non-teaching staff) and support from the Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in the state has assisted DELSU to achieve its national recognition and earned its pride of place in the comity of state universities in the country.

Let’s consider the particulars of these claims.

While addressing a press conference as part of programmes to mark the university’s 15th convocation ceremony at the institution’s conference hall, Egwunyenga, among other remarks, said DELSU recently recorded a significant breakthrough when all the 40 programmes presented to National Universities Commission (NUC) in the November/December 2022 accreditation exercise secured full accreditation.

He pointed out that accreditation of the programmes presented by the university to NUC happens to be the first time since the 31 years of existence of DELSU that full accreditation would be returned for such programmes in one fell swoop.

He stressed that all 80 programmes in the university have full NUC accreditation status, no interim accreditation, and no denial for any programme. This, again, is unprecedented in the history of the school and has only been made possible by the unwavering determination of the university administration and the entire staff to advance and reposition the institution for national and global recognition.

Going further, he announced that most recently, approval was sought and obtained from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to raise the university’s admission quota for the Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Programme from 75 to 120.

This was targeted at reducing the admission pressure that qualified students from Delta State and neighbouring states go through in getting admitted to study Medicine and Surgery at Delta State University, Abraka, noting that his administration met the admission quota for the MBBS Programme at 50 upon assumption of duty in December 2019.

Even as he stated that the first increase was from 50 to 75, Egunyenga said that obtaining approval from the NUC for the commencement of some new Degree Awarding Programmes, namely: Entrepreneurship Studies, Office & Information Management, Biotechnology, Public Administration and Medical Laboratory Science.

“Currently awaiting the report of NUC’s Resource Verification Exercise for the commencement of the Agriculture Business Management Programme and the Doctor of Pharmacy Programme, the University hitherto only ran the Bachelor of Pharmacy Programme,” he said, adding that Delta State University is pleased to announce to the Nigeria Scientific Community and the general public the approval of Benneth’s Joint Canada- Israel Research Program to be conducted in Delta State University.

The research team, according to him, is led by Dr Ben-Azu, Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. His research interest spans the study of Neuropsychiatry (neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders) and Neuropharmacology, brain diseases, including schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stress-related neuropathological conditions.

As part of efforts to further meet the institution’s research goal to help make the university the epicentre of multidisciplinary research to provide solutions to the problems of society, the Vice Chancellor said that DELSU is the development of aquafeed for sustainable aquaculture.:

“DELSU decided to use innovative and transformative aquaculture to bridge the huge gap between fish demand and domestic production as well as the non-readily availability of tilapia feed by signing two MoUs with the National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU), Keelung and also with the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) to actuate a tripartite partnership between DELSU, NTOU and NIOMR’.

Prof. Egunyenga, who themed his press conference speech as Another bountiful harvest, said in the latest global ranking of Universities by Alper-Doger Scientific Index, DELSU was ranked as the 27th best University in Nigeria among the over 200 universities in the country and the 4th best among state-owned universities. Further analysis of the ranking he observed showed the school to be the best State University in the South-South and South Eastern part of Nigeria.

“Furthermore, another highly recognized global university ranking body, Webometrics, in their own latest ranking, placed the University as 194th out of 2087 Universities in Africa and 24th out of over 200 universities in Nigeria, based on verified Google Scholar Citations. According to the ranking, Delta State University recorded 56,443 citations, beating some highly rated Universities in the United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Turkey, Portugal, Canada, and some other more advanced countries. This again is consistent with the Alper-Doger Scientific Index ranking that earlier placed the University as the 27th best in the country and 4th best state-owned university,” the VC said.

On capacity building and innovation in the university, Prof. Egwunyenga said that in order to ensure compliance with the university’s global best practices and competitiveness over two years ago developed four policy documents to guide the conduct of staff, students and other stakeholders.

“These include Environment Policy, Security Policy, Plagiarism Policy and Sexual Harassment Policy. Two new policy documents have been developed this year. First is the Gender Policy initiated by the Centre for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS). The policy was the outcome of a summit on Women in Leadership and development hosted by CGDS in October 2021,” he said.

According to him, the policy aims at creating a clear framework to drive the development of practice and procedures that will ensure equal rights and opportunities for men and women in all areas and structures of the university, including students and staff.

It will promote and ensure gender equity, establish structures, programmes and mechanisms to empower men and women and transform gender relations within the university.

“Delta State University is committed to eliminating barriers to women’s development and shall declare its position boldly on gender issues within its community, nationally and internally,” Egwunyenga said.

He also pointed out that this year, the Senate also approved the Copyright Policy, which is consistent with the Nigerian Copyright Act,2022 to protect writer’s rights to secure fair compensation and acknowledgement for their creative labours while also establishing restrictions and exceptions to facilitate public access to works of arts. The Delta State University Copyright Policy deals with the issue of Ownership, Publication, External Use and Payment for an academic’s Intellectual Property.

Prof. Egwunyenga expressed the gratitude of the institution to the Visitor and Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, for his unwavering support in funding the school and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, for his inspiring leadership and for creating an enabling environment for the university administration to discharge its responsibilities in line with its statue, while also acknowledging the contributions of other distinguished members of the council.

Utomi is the Program Coordinator (Media and Politics), Advocacy for Social and Economic Justice (SEJA), Lagos. He can be reached via 08032725374

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Education

45 Student-Led Startups Win N2.2bn from FG Ventures Initiative

Published

6 days ago

31/03/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

Forty-five student-led ventures emerged as beneficiaries of a total pool of N2.2 billion in grants at the 2026 Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) Finalist Bootcamp.

The programme of the federal government marks a significant boost to youth innovation under its entrepreneurship drive, announced earlier this year.

At the bootcamp’s closing ceremony and awards presentation held at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Ikoyi, Lagos, the winners emerged after a rigorous selection process involving 65 finalists and assessment by a 12-member expert panel.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, said the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to transforming tertiary institutions into centres of innovation, entrepreneurship and practical problem-solving.

He described the S-VCG programme as a key pillar of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at enabling students to convert ideas into viable businesses.

Mr Alausa noted that each beneficiary can access up to N50 million in equity-free funding, alongside mentorship, incubation support and digital tools.

He added that the programme attracted more than 30,000 applications from 404 tertiary institutions nationwide, reflecting the growing culture of innovation among Nigerian youth.

Also speaking, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr Bosun Tijani, commended participants for leveraging technology to develop solutions to real-world challenges.

He urged them to build scalable, tech-driven ventures capable of contributing to national development.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Mrs Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, praised the finalists’ resilience and creativity, noting that initiatives like S-VCG are critical to nurturing problem-solving skills and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFund, Mr Muntari Dandutse, called for sustained investment in youth innovation to strengthen Nigeria’s knowledge-based economy.

On his part, the National Project Coordinator of the Special Programmes Operations and Implementation Unit, Mr Adebayo Onigbanjo, outlined the structure and long-term objectives of the programme, stating that it is designed to equip students with the resources and confidence needed to build sustainable ventures.

Education

UniJos Suspends Exams Over Deadly Jos Attack

Published

1 week ago

30/03/2026

Adedapo Adesanya

By Adedapo Adesanya

The University of Jos has suspended all examinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday following growing tension in Jos, after a deadly attack in Anguwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The management of the institution also advised students and staff to remain indoors and stay vigilant.

According to reports, the attackers, who rode on motorcycles, stormed the community at about 7:30 pm while residents were going about their normal activities, firing indiscriminately and causing panic.

Many people were killed, while several others sustained injuries in the attack.

“The attackers just rode past and started shooting sporadically. People were running in different directions,” a source told Channels Television.

The broadcaster also reported that in the aftermath of the attack, angry youths reportedly blocked major roads within the community, raising fears of escalating tension.

UniJos, in a statement issued on Sunday by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Mr Emmanuel Madugu, said the incident had heightened tension, necessitating the decision.

“In view of the late evening fatal attacks by unknown gunmen on residents of Angwan Rukuba (an area that hosts many staff and students of the University), and the consequential tensions it has generated in and around the area and environs.

“The Vice Chancellor has directed that all examinations scheduled to hold on Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31, 2026, are postponed, and will be rescheduled accordingly. That members of the University community be advised to be very vigilant and extra careful with their movements (On and off Campus) with IMMEDIATE EFFECT.

“For emphasis, members are strongly advised to AVOID COMING OUT VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING, and should REPORT IMMEDIATELY any sign or shadow of breach of the public peace to the University Security Division on 08035895323.

“University Management is actively liaising with the relevant Security agencies and monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of the lives of members of the University community. Further relevant updates will be communicated in due course,” the deputy registrar added.

Education

8 Best Editing and Proofreading Services in 2026 for Academic Researchers

Published

1 week ago

27/03/2026

Dipo Olowookere

The top editing services for academic researchers in 2026 include Editage, Wiley Editing Services, Taylor & Francis Editing Services, Sage Author Services, and Scribbr. In this article, we’ll look at the key features of each of these, and some others, to help you choose the best proofreading service for your own research paper. We’ll also share the 4 key aspects you must consider when choosing a proofreading service.

Top 8 Editing & Proofreading Services for Academic Researchers

1. Editage

With over 23 years of experience in academic publishing, Editage has edited over 2 million research papers and is trusted by 40+ publishers, 500+ universities, and 1000+ research societies. Editage employs over 3,000 subject matter experts as editors. It offers comprehensive publication support, including services such as journal selection, statistical review, and figure preparation. Most service packages include free journal formatting. Editage also provides a specialized service designed to help prevent the desk rejection of your paper.

2. Wiley Editing Services

Wiley Editing Services has edited over 25,000 manuscripts in the past 3 years, with an acceptance rate of 62% (the acceptance rate of Wiley journals in general is around 28%). Wiley Editing Services offers authors slab-based pricing with clear turnaround times. Another feature of their editing service is free word count reduction by 10-20% depending on service package. It has a specialized academic translation team and offers authors design support in creating graphical abstracts and infographics.

3. Taylor & Francis Editing Services

Designed to support Taylor & Francis authors, Taylor & Francis Editing Services has a no-questions-asked quality guarantee and commits to re-working your manuscript until you are satisfied. Clients can choose from three levels of English language editing, and the company also offers you a free language scorer tool to help you choose the right level of editing for your manuscript. After your paper is accepted for publication, you can also avail of services to help you create lay summaries, video abstracts, etc. to promote it. Taylor & Francis also offers a range of live webinars for researchers to acquire new skills.

4. Sage Author Services

Realizing that 76% of authors find writing a paper for publication most difficult of all the research stages, Sage Author Services offers clients a range of editing services with easy tools to compare them and select the one suited for your paper. There is also a combination translation + editing service geared towards ESL authors, and a plagiarism check support service. You can get unlimited Q&A with your editor after your paper is edited. Their website also has an easy-to-use calculator for you to choose pricing and delivery speed.

5. Cambridge University Press Author Services

Cambridge University Press, a part of Cambridge University, has a long-standing commitment to advancing research and human knowledge. Their author services offers 24/7 support and a certificate guaranteeing the quality of English in the edited manuscript. Besides offering three levels of editing service, Cambridge University Press also has translation support available for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. There is a separate manuscript formatting service and a specialized “video shorts” service to make your published paper easy to share on social media.

6. Scribbr

Scribbr, a trusted brand in edtech, has a network of over 700 editors and writing coaches for students. All editors have passed through an in-house training program called Scribbr Academy. Scribbr offers clients access to free AI-powered tools and an extensive Knowledge Base for university students (especially undergraduates). Scribber also has a rapid turnaround time of just 5 minutes for AI-powered proofreading. The company offers specialized proofreading services for capstone projects and essays.

7. Scribendi

Established in 1997, Scribendi has processed over 800,000 manuscripts and has a team of over 400 native English-speaking freelance editors. The company is highly rated on Google Reviews and offers specialized services for ESL students, including dissertation proofreading with a 10% student discount. Another specialty of Scribbr is field-aware editing for humanities and social sciences researchers.

8. PaperTrue

PaperTrue works with students, authors, and businesses around the world to create error-free documents. New customers get a free 300-word sample. The company follows a rigorous 3-step checking process for every assignment. PaperTrue is rated 4.6 on Reviews.io and offers specialized editing services for college assignments, admissions essays, and personal statements. The company also has a large bouquet of solutions for book authors: typesetting, cover page design, etc.

How to Choose a Proofreading Service for Your Research Paper

Here are 4 things that you need to consider when you are choosing a proofreading service:

Quality:

Everyone will claim to be the best. How can you tell which proofreading services are really good? Look for services that have many subject matter experts, those backed by scholarly publishers, and those that transparently disclose whether their services are powered by AI or not.

Turnaround time:

A rapid-fire editing service isn’t always better. You need to budget time even after your paper is edited to check the editor’s changes and respond to any queries. Look for a service provider with a reasonable turnaround time, and one that is flexible with turnaround time if you have budget constraints.

Price:

Instead of thinking that cheap equals good, look for proofreading services that have transparent pricing that is easy to follow. Check what is included in your service package, especially re-editing support and manuscript formatting.

Additional support:

Look for a provider who can assist you at every stage of your publication journey and even with post-publication promotion. Such providers will care more deeply about your article and your publication success. Also, such providers will likely have editors who are experienced in academic research and who understand the challenges authors face during the publication process.