The Delta State Government has earmarked half of its N46.7 billion education budget for tertiary institutions in 2025, signalling an unprecedented financial commitment to higher education in the state. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, during a media briefing in Asaba.
“We are doing well in terms of funding for tertiary institutions. Delta State is unique—it funds education more than any other state,” Prof. Tonukari said, emphasizing that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration is prioritising tertiary education to improve academic standards and infrastructure across state-owned institutions.
The commissioner highlighted that the state’s four universities and several polytechnics are collectively catering to over 100,000 students, reflecting Delta’s strategic expansion in higher education. “This marks an enormous leap from less than 20 years ago, when Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, had a student population of just 3,000 to 4,000,” he noted.
According to Tonukari, the massive investment is yielding tangible outcomes. “In the 2025 academic year alone, state institutions admitted nearly 25,000 new students, demonstrating both the growing demand for tertiary education and the government’s proactive response in expanding capacity,” he explained.
The expansion isn’t limited to student numbers. Prof. Tonukari revealed that the curricular offerings have also grown significantly. “Institutions such as Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, and Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, have significantly increased the number of programs they offer,” he said.
He added that the Polytechnic in Utefo-Ugala has introduced 18 new academic programmes in the last two years, while Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic has added over a dozen. These additions aim to align tertiary education with evolving market and technological demands.
Delta State University, Abraka, the commissioner disclosed, has undergone major academic restructuring and expansion. “The university has added four new faculties—including Dentistry, Computing, and Mass Communication—bringing the total number of faculties to twelve,” Tonukari revealed.
Prof. Tonukari concluded that the Oborevwori administration’s investment in tertiary education demonstrates its long-term vision for human capital development. “We are building not just campuses, but a future where Deltans will be globally competitive,” he said.
