Varsity spends N720m on electricity, N600m on diesel annually

Prof. Samuel Asagba, the Vice Chancellor, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, says the institution spends about N720 million annually on electricity bill.
Asagba, the 8th substantive Vice Chancellor of DELSU, made this known during the university’s 17th Convocation Press Conference, held at the institution’s campus in Abraka on Wednesday.
He said that the university spent about N50 million monthly (N600 million) on diesel, to run the institution’s generating plants.
The VC said that his administration would address the huge cost by exploring other alternative sources of power supply, such as solar energy and hydropower, through private partnership investors.
“We spend N60 million monthly on electricity, we also spend about N50 million monthly on diesel, so cumulatively, we spend about N110 million monthly in electricity, this, we have to address.
“Beyond electricity, a comprehensive and integrated water supply system for Site Three will be developed. There will be construction and maintenance of internal road network.
“We will vigorously ensure compliance with the master plan of the university,” he said.
Asagba said that the university was exploring other avenues to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), noting that the most demanding challenge in the overall scheme of the university was the issue of funding.
According to him, without proper funding, it will be difficult to realise the vision of the university.
He said that DELSU would implement the financial policies of the University Council and ensure that the institution’s resources were used in ways that would most effectively advance the approved vision, mission and strategic plans of the university.
“To achieve the goals, DELSU Investment Ltd., in consultation with the Chairman of Board, will be overhauled. The university’s printing press will be upgraded to a publishing house.
“Scope for the Centre for Open and Distance Learning will be expanded to cover many departments of the university. Quotas for the admission of undergraduates will be raised for courses that are highly sought after.
“Investors will be engaged in a Public Private Partnership arrangement. National and multinationals will be wooed and partnered for the development of the university,” the VC said.
He said that the institution’s management would improve the prioritisation of the university’s ICT infrastructure, to enable it to compete globally.
Asagba also said that sustained measures would be put in place to improve the quality of graduates and postgraduates students through closed monitoring, to guarantee their employability.
He said that the university would be properly connected to the world through common wealth multifarious schemes, covering short-term and long-term sponsorship of staff and students.
Asagba said that the university would provide training and support to entrepreneurs and small businesses within Abraka community, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
He, however, said that staff welfare remained top priority in his administration, adding that it would not be compromised.