“RAISE UNIDEL HIGHER IS MY COVENANT WITH THE UNIVERSITY” - PROF. EBOH

By Ewere Okonta, PhD

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The Vice Chancellor of the University of Delta, Agbor (UNIDEL), Prof. Eric Chiedum Eboh, has charged the newly inaugurated Provost, College of Medicine, Deans, Directors, Chairpersons of Committees and Heads of Departments to embrace their responsibilities as key drivers of his administration’s transformation journey, Project RAISE UNIDEL Higher.

Prof. Eboh gave the charge recently during the inauguration of the university’s principal academic and administrative officers at the 1,000-capacity Lecture Theatre, Main Campus, Agbor, where he declared that the initiative was not merely an administrative slogan but a personal commitment to the institution.

“To some persons, the Project RAISE UNIDEL Higher is a mantra, while to some others it is a strategy, but for me it is more than that; it is my covenant with the University of Delta, Agbor,” the Vice Chancellor stated.

He explained that the essence of the project was to ensure that everything that needs to be done is done to raise UNIDEL higher, stressing that every member of the university’s leadership structure must therefore align his or her actions with the broader objective of institutional advancement.

RAISE, the philosophy underpinning the plan, represents Resourcefulness, Academic Excellence, Innovation, Service and Excellence - core values intended to drive effective resource utilisation, quality teaching and research, innovation, responsive service and sustained institutional excellence.

Congratulating the newly inaugurated officers, Prof. Eboh formally welcomed them into what he described as the Project RAISE UNIDEL Higher crew, informing them that their new positions automatically made them part of the University’s expanded management team.

He urged them to be proactive, effective and value-driven, insisting that leadership must be measured by tangible results and not by the volume of activities undertaken.

The Vice Chancellor warned against the misconception that activity is synonymous with achievement, urging the new leaders to focus on outcomes that would have measurable and lasting impact on the University.

He charged the Deans, Directors and Chairpersons of Committees to mobilise every available human, material and intellectual resource towards the advancement of UNIDEL.

According to him, leadership at the faculty, directorate and committee levels requires a solution-oriented mindset, with leaders moving beyond identifying problems to delivering practical solutions.

“We must move from problem identification to solution delivery,” he admonished.

Turning specifically to the Heads of Departments, Prof. Eboh described the department as the “academic workshop of the university”, stressing that its effectiveness was critical to the overall success of the institution.

He therefore urged the HODs to take charge of their respective departments, exercise responsible leadership and maintain discipline and academic standards.

The Vice Chancellor also cautioned them against allowing themselves to be intimidated in the discharge of their legitimate responsibilities, just as he urged them not to tolerate bad behaviour or conduct capable of undermining the integrity and effectiveness of their departments.

He reminded the newly appointed leaders that their positions should be viewed primarily as responsibilities rather than privileges, adding that leadership inevitably comes with sacrifice.

According to him, effective leadership is governed by three important principles: the law of sacrifice, the law of service and the law of the big picture.

He explained that leaders must be willing to sacrifice personal convenience for institutional progress, serve those entrusted to their leadership and consistently place the long-term interests of the University above narrow personal considerations.

Prof. Eboh further called for greater teamwork, collaboration and synergy across the University’s various academic and administrative structures.

He stressed that the transformation of UNIDEL could not be achieved by the Vice Chancellor or central management alone, but required the collective commitment, competence and creativity of every member of the University community.

As he welcomed the new officers into their respective roles, the Vice Chancellor described them as partners in the University’s transformation journey.

“I see you as partners that we together RAISE UNIDEL Higher,” he declared.

The inauguration thus signalled a renewed phase of shared responsibility and collective leadership at UNIDEL, with the Vice Chancellor challenging the new officers to translate their appointments into measurable results, stronger academic standards, better services and sustainable institutional growth.

For Prof. Eboh, the message is clear: Project RAISE UNIDEL Higher is not simply a slogan to be repeated; it is a call to action, and every leader has a role to play in making it a reality.

Dr Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media, a family-values advocate, teacher and writer. He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor.