By Francis Sadhere
The National University Commission (NUC) has approved accreditation for three engineering programmmes for the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.
The engineering programmes whose full accreditation status expired in 2012 but got the approval of the NUC were Civil Engineering, Electrical/ Electronic Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Victor Peretomode made the disclosure yesterday during a press conference in the Conference Hall of the Institution.
He said, “Gentlemen of the press, I am happy to inform you that the results of the NUC organized accreditation visit to the engineering programmes are now out and they are positive. Civil engineering that was denied accreditation in 2012 now has full accreditation and it will remain in that status until 2021. So we don’t have to bother ourselves on accreditation till 2021.
“Electrical and Electronic engineering whose accredition status was denied in 2012 has now achieved full accreditation status and the maturity date is 2021. Mechanical Engineering that was denied accreditation in 2012 today now has full accreditation status till 2021.”
According to the VC, the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa played a major role in the accreditation process of the three programmes.
He commended Governor Okowa for pioneering and encouraging the University management to pursue the accreditation of the three engineering programmes, adding that without the Governor’s inputs, the management of the institution would have still been running up and down to get the engineering programmes accredited.
“The joy that we are enjoying in the University today, must go to our amiable Governor Okowa”, he stated.
The DELSU VC also noted that the two remaining programmes, Chemical engineering and Petroleum engineering programmes yet to be accredited, were in the process of being accredited, adding that ” but this depends on when management of the University gets the funds to put necessary things in place. Be rest assured, we are on top of the situation “.
He noted that though the remaining two programmes were highly expensive to run, the university was doing all it can to ensure that they get accredited next year.
He also showered praises on the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Hon. Jude Sinebe for tirelessly working to ensure that the equipment for the engineering programs and structures were ready for inspection by the NUC.
He said; “When the engineering programme started, it started too ambitiously. It started with five engineering programmes, that is civil engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, Electrical and electronic engineering and petroleum engineering. You will agree with me that engineering programmes are very, very capital intensive. Finding the resource persons, like the lectures is not easy. Particularly in chemical and engineering areas.”
“We have promised ourselves that we will not allow the Engineering Programmes of DELSU to phase out on their own, we are going to sustain them. With the achievement that we have recorded in the accreditation, 100 Level Students will be admitted in October this year”.
On the Law programme which he said was on interim accreditation, he assured Deltans that the Law programme will be fully accredited before the end of September this year.
He said all the necessary requirements for the full accreditation process of the law were already in place and that the university has already written to NUC to come and inspect it for full accreditation and said that;” We are very hopeful that the accreditation of the Law programme will scale through NUC hurdles as well. Our Isoko people should be lauded too for their efforts so far”.
