Ubulu-Unor, Aniocha South, Delta State — The newly elected leadership of the Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku (DSPG) Alumni Association paid a courtesy visit on Sunday, August 10, 2025, to the Governing Council Chairman of the institution, Hon. Paul Adingupu, at his residence in Ubulu-Unor, to strengthen ties and discuss ways to move the polytechnic forward.
The delegation, led by National President Comr. Onowakpor Ufuoma Festus, introduced themselves as the new Alumni Executive and expressed readiness to partner with the Governing Council in addressing the institution’s challenges.
In his opening remarks, Comr. Onowakpor thanked Hon. Adingupu for hosting them and said the visit was an opportunity to foster collaboration. He outlined five major issues the Alumni body hopes to address with the Council:
- Peace and Stability: He noted the current crisis in DSPG, which is affecting academic stability, the school’s image, and student welfare, and appealed for the Council Chairman’s leadership in promoting dialogue for lasting peace.
- Understaffing: He pointed out that many departments are short of qualified lecturers and staff, which is impacting teaching quality and morale. He asked for the Council’s support to push for timely recruitment.
- Alumni Secretariat Project: The Alumni is constructing a modern secretariat to serve as a hub for alumni activities, student mentorship, and collaboration. They requested moral support, guidance, and help in securing assistance to complete it.
- Infrastructural Development: Comr. Onowakpor stressed the need for better internal roads, safe walkways, and improved facilities to boost mobility, safety, and the institution’s image.
- Partnership: He assured that the Alumni sees the Governing Council as custodians of DSPG’s legacy and looks forward to working closely to achieve shared goals.
Council Chairman Responds
In his response, Hon. Paul Adingupu congratulated the new executives and advised them to lead with honesty, sincerity, and care, noting that their leadership roles require them to represent the institution well.
He promised to support their projects, including visiting the Alumni Secretariat site, but urged them to clear and maintain it to show commitment. He commended them for inspecting the school, identifying problems, and engaging management to address them.
Hon. Adingupu went on to give an extensive history of DSPG’s creation, detailing his role in lobbying for the polytechnic’s revival in the early 2000s alongside other key figures such as Chief Ighoyota Amori and Chief Patrick O.C. Ozieh. He recalled challenges faced during accreditation and emphasized that DSPG’s foundation was built on hard work and dedication, not politics.
Addressing the issue of understaffing, he revealed that when he became Chairman in May 2024, he discovered most lecturers were ad hoc staff — a practice that did not exist in earlier years. He explained steps already taken to convert qualified ad hoc staff to permanent roles and ensure future recruitments are approved through the Council.
On road infrastructure, Hon. Adingupu said he had already influenced government approval to fix the institution’s main road, noting that delays were caused by discrepancies in the project measurements, which have now been corrected.
He also promised to look into the issue of empowerment, assuring the Alumni that opportunities for skills development, training, and support for graduates and students would be explored as part of DSPG’s growth agenda.
Throughout his remarks, the Chairman stressed the importance of integrity, accountability, and defending the institution’s name as Alumni. He encouraged the executives to be solution-driven and not swayed by personal interests or political pressure.
The Alumni leaders promised to continue working closely with the school management to achieve their goals. Both parties agreed that teamwork is the key to building a better DSPG for students, staff, and graduates.
This meeting marks the start of a stronger relationship between the Alumni Association and the school’s Governing Council, with a shared vision to make DSPG more peaceful, well-staffed, and well-equipped for learning.
Other Alumni leaders present included Comr. Nwaozo Emmanuel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Comr. Sunny Osamor, Immediate Past National President; and Comr. Ekhator Zelinjor Emmanuel, Chairman of the Electoral Committee.
