BRIEF HISTORY

Of all the factors of sustainable development, education is the foundation upon which all the others revolve. This is because education produces the human capital that operates all social institutions in society.
It is in the same vein that technological growth and development takes a centre stage in educational planning in most states and countries.
Conscious of the complementary role that technological education plays in the industrialization process, the Delta State Government was understandably agitated when in the year 2001, a Technical Committee on Higher Education confirmed, the obvious, that the State lacked the institutional base for the training of its middle manpower in the area of modern technology.
Indeed, of the 38 Polytechnics in Nigeria at the time - 17 Federal and 21 State Government - owned, none was located in Delta State. In a Federal system where the cry for equity holds sway, applicants of Delta State origin totaling about 43,000 annually jostle at a great disadvantage for the 8,000 available places in the Polytechnics nationwide.

It is in the light of the above that the Government of Delta State under the administration of the Executive Governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori established three polytechnics at Ozoro (Isoko North Local Government Area), Ogwashi-Uku (Aniocha South Local Government Area), Otefe-Oghara (Ethiope West Local Government Area) and College of Physical Education, Mosogar (Ethiope West Local Government Area).

The three Polytechnics and College of Physical Education came into existence virtue of the Act of November 12, 2002. In order to ensure standardization and smooth take-off of the institutions, the Government of Delta State reached an understanding with the University of Westminister, London to collaborate in securing management and technical support in the establishment of the four tertiary institutions.

In simultaneously establishing four tertiary institutions with technological bias at a go, the Delta State Government set an all time record in the history of educational development in Nigeria.
In a country where an inequitable quota system of policy of admission into tertiary institutions held sway, the decision to establish three polytechnics and college of Physical Education was also propelled by the need to provide tertiary institutions that would provide proper technological education to drive the economic growth and rapid industrialization of the state and nation.

It is worthy of emphasis that given the fact that graduate unemployment is fast becoming the norm in Nigeria; the goal of government is for the new polytechnics to provide functional education that would produce a new crop of graduates who are equipped with skills not only to generate enterprises for self-employment but also well-fitted to employ others.
Accordingly, the four institutions have been designed as centres of excellence with diverse areas of specialty. Their areas of specialization include: Agriculture, Computing and Information Technology, Fashion Design and Arts and Sports.
Besides their primary areas of specialization,
i. All students in each of the four institutions will be introduced to Computing and Information Technology (IT)

ii. All students will be introduced to the skills required to create business enterprises and develop entrepreneurship

iii. Programmes will be introduced to teach skills and use of facilities of benefits to the students and society at large.

At the inception of the Delta State Higher Education Project (DSHEP) in January 2002; the Ministry of Education was charged with the responsibility of supervising the development of the Polytechnics and College of Physical Education.

NEXT

Mrs. Elizabeth Uvoh-Gardner

The Rector Dr.M.L.Osaji