GOV. DICKSON MEANS WELL ESTABLISHING UNIVERSITY OF AFRICA

The importance of education can't be over-emphasized. Hence the compelling need for people to be given full access to education.

 If you take a closer look at the Middle East, you will discover that Israel is not the most populated nation in that part of the world, but because of the knowledge which they have acquired over time, they are able to survive in the midst of the hostile neighbouring Arab nations. Again if you look at all sectors of our contemporary society, most especially the economy, you will realize that those who are ahead in educational development are selfsame people who dictates the content and direction of the economy. A good example is Ekiti State because they had early access to education and they are surrounded by many educational institutions, every house hold can boast of at least a PhD holder. The secret the closeness of higher academic institutions and easy access.

Even if you check the states around us here in the South South, you will agree with me and the Restoration Governor that Bayelsa State needs more educational institutions because we live in a knowledge-driven economy.

The first reason for the establishment of the University of Africa is never and will never be be to close down the Niger Delta University (NDU), but to bring education closer to the people of the State and also provides more opportunities young Bayelsans, especially the youth, to have access to higher institutions of learning in their home state.

Secondly, is to balance the institutional imbalance in the three senatorial districts. You will agree with me that Bayelsa East hosts thrFederal University Otueke, while the Bayelsa Central has the Niger Delta University. Hence, the University of Africa is created for the Bayelsa West to also have its fair share of educational development. The Governor in his wisdom is putting the same modern structures befitting of a higher institution in both the University of Africa, and the NDU with the building of the Senate Building, and a promise that, with the passage of the 2018 Budget, a state-of-the-art auditorium will be built for the NDU.

Thus, Bayelsans must encourage and support our Governor Dickson and his Restoration Team to bring education and its Institutions closer to the people. The reason for this position is that  we live in a knowledge-driven society. We may not immediately see the benefits now but in 10 or 15 years from now, Governor Dickson would become the AWOLOWO of the Ijaw Nation due to his investments in human capacity development in the educational sector.
Orutu P Africa Writes from Yenagoa