Niger Delta
Out-Going VC Scores Varsity High, Lauds Stakeholders
Outgoing Vice Chancellor of Federal University (FUO), Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Professor Seth Accra-Jaja, declared on Wednesday that the institution had recorded giant strides under his leadership.
Accra-Jaja, who stated this during a press briefing at Otuoke to mark his sent-forth, said when he came on board the student and staff population stood at 2000, respectively, which is not proper for a university system.
He, however, attributed the change and progress achieved by the institution in recent years to the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders in the university.
According to him, “The success stories and fulfilment of promises under my watch as Vice- Chancellor were made possible by efforts of students, lecturers and management of the institution.
“The development of any institution thrives where there is an active collaboration between people, capital, systems and structures for the overall transformation of the society
“Under my stewardship, FUO like every human organisation comparable to a living organism, has had its assembly of units’ function as a whole.
“We have improved on what we met on ground. For instance, when I came on board, the student population was 2000 same with staff population. We also had problem of two functional facilities with twelve programmes.
“But I want to announce that now our student population has grown up to 8000 and above. With the same staff strength we have been able to service the student population which is a notable achievement.
“If you have been to this university before now you will observe that in terms of structures we don’t even have a classroom that we can say this is a university classroom.
“But this is one area that the Federal Government has seriously addressed and today we have well over twelve lecture theatres one of which can accommodate 1,500, some 500 with the least housing 300 students.”
Accra-Jaja added that his successor would be working from a more befitting edifice, stressing that the transformation witnessed by the university was the beginning of better things to come.
Niger Delta
Make God Your Anchor To Fulfill Destiny, Cleric Charges Christians … As Jaja Marks 70th Birthday
The Lead Pastor at Jesus Appointed People’s Bible Church, Ozogbe, Ikwerrengwo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Pastor Promise Nwaelele, has urged Christians to make God the anchor of their lives in whatever position they find themselves, in order to attain the destinies set for them by God.
Pastor Nwaelele, who gave the charge recently in a sermon he preached at the 70th birthday anniversary thanksgiving service of Sir Donald Michael Jaja, a veteran journalist in Rivers State, said this is because any genuine child of God is a permanent target for destabilization and destruction by the devil.
Taking his text from the Bible book of Mark 4:16-17, the preacher stated that fulfilment in life for a child of God required faith, obedience to God’s word, humility and grace to withstand trials and temptations.
According to him, temptations and afflictions are bound to happen in the lives of those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
“No wonder the Bible said that those that endure till the end shall be saved”, he said.
The Clergyman said God prospers believers who are humble, not proud and conceited, and leads them to destiny fulfilment.
“David said in Psalm 51:17, that the sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit, not an impatient or proud spirit”, the preacher said.
He called on Christians not to allow persecutions and afflictions to sway them from the love and blessings of Jesus Christ.
On his part, Jaja, a seasoned Journalist who retired as an Acting Editor of the Rivers State Government-owned The Tide Newspaper, gave thanks to God for honouring him by giving him the grace of attaining 70 years.
“I cannot capture what the good Lord has done for me in my entire life in this fleeting moment of thanksgiving. But, I know that without Him, I wouldn’t have been who I am today, in all spheres. Therefore, my joy knows no bounds as I give thanks to my creator today, alongside my family. Praise be His holy name”, Jaja said.
