By Iroroh Frank
The Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Monday June 8, visited the proposed Stars University and Mount Ned Nwoko Tourist and Cultural Centre, Idumuje Ugboko, Aniocha North LGA, Delta State.
The Speaker and his aides were conducted round ongoing construction works at the site of the university and the international Golf Centre. Some of the building visited were already at completion stages, they include the University Cafeteria, the administrative block/faculty building and lecture halls, staff quarters, the boys and girls’ hostels, engineering workshop, waterworks and Agricultural department, comprising poultry, piggery and fishery sections, the zoo and other historical/cultural features in Mount Ned Nwoko Tourism and Cultural Centre.
While conducting the Speaker around, the Anioma Star Prince and international legal luminary, Hon Prince Ned Nwoko, told the august visitor, that the university was conceived to carter for the educational needs of Nigerian sportsmen and women, to give them opportunity to study and participate fully in sports.
He maintained that the university will offer double honour degree courses, thus given the student athletes opportunity to study sports related courses and other conventional courses.
This according to the founder and Chancellor of the premiere sports university in Africa, will give the students career choices and qualifications to migrate to different professional areas of choice.
He added that one of the major reasons the country is not doing very well in sports international, is that the country lacks qualified personnel to handle vital areas of the sports sector and that the university was designed to train such professionals.
His words, ‘this university was conceived to carter for the educational needs of Nigerian sportsman and women. We want to provide opportunities for athletes to participate in sports to the best of their abilities while also pursuing career of their choice. The university will offer double honour degree courses. The student athletes can do sports related courses and other conventional courses. This will give them opportunity to migrate to different professional areas in later years.’
‘Nigeria is not doing very well in sports international, because we do not have qualified professionals to handle critical areas of the sports industry, so this university will offer courses like sports psychology, coaching technology, sports marketing, sports communication, sports administration and organization amongst others, as well as conventional courses like law, engineering, accountancy, information technology and so on”, he stated.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt Hon Oborevwori stated that he was very satisfied with what he saw on ground and commended Prince Ned Nwoko for his foresights and developmental strides, especially as regards his commitment to tourism, sports, health, environment and educational development and noted that the university will not only provide jobs and boost the local economy of the host community but will also enriched the tourism potentials of Delta state.
The Speaker noted; “Many sportsmen and women from within the country and abroad will be coming to study in this university, this will no doubt boost the tourism potentials of the state outside creating jobs and increasing businesses in the host communities. I am very satisfied with what I saw on ground and want to enjoin all to support the lofty project”.
