By Sunday Apah
In the spirit of the season, the Rector, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, has given waivers of different categories to students of the institution.
The rector, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri who made known during the festival of nine lessons and carols held at the Chief James Ibori Auditorium, Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, said the waiver was to assist students who are in difficult situation, to graduate easily.
He explained that what they are trying to do with the waiver, after management and academic board meeting, is that students who failed one or two courses, will be given waiver.
“Students who failed up to four courses, should pay minimum fees, come back and write the examinations within a short time instead of undergoing the full session, which may lead to frustration.
“There are students who have for no fault or some other reasons, lost their admission, should come back, and we will give them amnesty for a period of years going backward”, he added.
On expectations from the students, he pointed out that “every higher institution has three primary responsibilities: for the teachers; teaching, research and community service; for the students, attending and receiving lectures and passing their examinations.
“And the other one is that we teach them mortality and discipline, ensure that they are morally discipline and upright. The last one is that we teach them on creativity and entrepreneurship, we teach them to be entrepreneurial, independent and employers of labour.
“So we expect that if students gets these waivers, by achieving what they would have been deprived of either intentionally or tentionally, they should read well and pass their examinations in flying colours, be entrepreneurial and uphold the tenets of discipline and respect whoever that is in authority, do the right thing, avoid deviance and other anti-social vices”.
He noted that the nine lessons and carols was to uphold what was in practice in a Christian environment like theirs. “It’s a way of thanking God, giving back to the society and the best way to remember christ and to usher persons into Christmas season. It’s a convivial, spiritual and interactive atmosphere to reignite the importance of Jesus Christ and Christianity. Those are the fundamental precipitation for organizing this Christmas Carol. Its not the first time, I am only building on what other rectors have been doing”, he added.
Earlier, Rev. Fr. Christopher Elabor, Parish Priest of St. Mathias Catholic Church, Uzere in his sermon centered on love, said, the Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Ufuophu-Biri was doing well for the institution, Delta State Government and the PDP.
He noted that Christmas is a season of love and exchange of gifts between children of God, praying for Christians to receive divine visitation as they celebrate the season.
Backing his sermon with bible inscription from the book of John 3:16, Ekabor pointed out that the birth of Jesus Christ was an encounter between God and man. “Which God did by coming down in human form to save us from everlasting suffering.”
Men of the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police Force, representatives of the King of Oghara Kingdom, Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Chief Andrew Orugbo, Chairman, Ethiope West Local Government Council, represented by the SLG, Mr. Sunday Amori, School Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Jesusovie Ogagavwodia, Deputy Rector, Dr. Jacob Edijana Ighere, Registrar, Efedi Chukwuemeke, Dean of Students Affairs and others were present as the choristers drawn from all churches in the school rendered melodious songs to the admiration of all.
