Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State on Saturday rewarded four First Class graduates with cash prizes as Southern Delta University (SDU), Ozoro, graduated 1,231 students at its maiden convocation ceremony.
The Governor, who attended the historic event as Visitor to the university, described the convocation as a defining milestone in the institution’s growth and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education infrastructure across the state.
In recognition of academic excellence, Governor Oborevwori announced a ₦5 million cash award for the overall best graduating student and ₦1 million each for the other three First Class graduates.
He commended Engr. Godwin Izomor for offering automatic employment to the overall best graduating student, noting that outstanding performance must always be encouraged and rewarded.
A breakdown of the graduating class showed that four students earned First Class honours, 421 obtained Second Class Upper Division, 796 graduated with Second Class Lower Division, while 10 were classified in other categories.
Earlier in the day, the Governor commissioned key projects executed by the State Government, including laboratories and workshops for the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, male and female hostels, the Faculty of Computing complex, and the Faculty of Medical Sciences building.
He also approved several requests presented by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jacob Oboreh, including additional ambulances, equipment for the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, hostels for medical students, construction of a Faculty of Law complex, completion of the Computer-Based Test Centre, perimeter fencing, and other critical infrastructure.
Governor Oborevwori paid tribute to his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, for establishing the institution in 2021, noting that despite early criticisms, the university has expanded access to higher education for thousands of students.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor described the maiden convocation as a watershed moment in the university’s evolution, highlighting its growth from six faculties with 45 programmes to 11 faculties offering 89 programmes, all accredited by the National Universities Commission.
The ceremony attracted dignitaries, traditional rulers, political leaders, academics, and community stakeholders, marking a significant chapter in the consolidation and advancement of Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
