The Delta State Government on Wednesday confirmed that academic activities will resume on October 2nd in all the state-owned tertiary institutions across the state.
The state Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with NIGER DELTA TODAY (NDT) Online.
Muoboghare said students will resume in phases in conformity with the new normal in respect of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country and the concomitant Lockdown.
The institutions are resuming in the state five months after they were shut down to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
The earlier proposed date of resumption (September 21st) would not be actualized due to some logistics arrangements to ensure that the protocols of combating the virus are put in place.
The October 2 date was reached after series of meetings between the state government team led by the Higher Education Commissioner and the heads of the various institutions in the state.
Muoboghare hinted that the resumption date does not apply to federal schools in the state.
He charged returning students to comply with COVID-19 protocols in line with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“We have agreed to reopen on October 2nd immediately after the Independence Day celebration. Each institution is to work out its own programme to fall within the time frame given.
“This applies to all tertiary institutions under the Delta State Ministry of Higher Education. This doesn’t apply to federal institutions. Federal institutions are not included in this arrangement. They are controlled by Federal Ministry of Education”, he stated.