Governor Douye Diri has assured that his administration will carefully consider a proposal to establish a Ministry of Higher Education in Bayelsa State.
The assurance followed the submission of a report by the state’s Visitation Panel on tertiary institutions, led by Oyovwin Osusu, at the Government House in Yenagoa. The panel recommended the creation of a separate ministry to manage the increasing number of higher institutions in the state.
Osusu explained that Bayelsa now has about five tertiary institutions, making it necessary to separate their oversight from the Ministry of Education, which he described as overstretched. He noted that a dedicated ministry would improve coordination, streamline policies, and strengthen administrative structures across the institutions.
The panel also proposed a rotational arrangement for intervention funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) between Bayelsa Medical University and the University of Africa, Toru-Orua, to ensure equitable access to funding.
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Reports were also presented by sub-panels covering institutions such as Niger Delta University, Bayelsa Polytechnic, Aleibiri, and the Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, Sagbama.
Responding, Diri commended the panel for its detailed work and described its recommendations as timely. He, however, noted that issues affecting the University of Africa were linked to its establishment law, which may need amendment before accessing TETFund support.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to improving infrastructure, accreditation, and governance across the state’s tertiary institutions.
