The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, accompanied by former classmates of the 2005 Religious Studies graduating class, visited his alma mater, Delta State University, Abraka, to give back to the institution.
The visit culminated in the donation of books, teaching aids and other learning materials to the Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, as well as a pledge to begin massive renovations of the department’s dilapidated lecture building.
The Speaker and his classmates were received by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Samuel Asagba and senior University officials.
After a brief tour of the department’s facilities, Speaker Guwor formally handed over the donated items, including hundreds of textbooks of different reference volumes, set of digital learning kits, projector, assorted stationery and public‑address system, among others.
Appreciating God for life and for giving them the wherewithal to return to the department after 20 years, Rt Hon Guwor said “it is humbling to come back to the place that shaped our worldview two decades ago”.
He added that the donated items were represented a token of appreciation for the foundation they received and a pledge by the classmates to keep investing in the next generation of scholars.
The Speaker noted that the gesture also aligned with the state government’s commitment to promoting education in Delta State.
“This donation is expected to boost the department’s research output and improve the learning experience for current students, reinforcing Delta State’s broader agenda of ‘Renewed Hope for MORE’ through education and community empowerment”, Guwor remarked.
The Speaker commended the Vice‑ Chancellor and his management team for their efforts to raise standards at an institution that had produced many distinguished alumni worldwide, even as he singled out his former project supervisor for special appreciation.
Class Coordinator, Mr Bartholomew Akwalhigbe, recalled the challenges students faced two decades ago, and expressed gratitude to God for opportunities.
“When we were undergraduates, outdated textbooks and limited resources were constant hurdles. Seeing our former classmate, now a Lecturer in the department, receive these books is truly gratifying”, Akwalhigbe said.
The Vice‑Chancellor, Prof Samuel Asagba, praised the initiative, describing the department as a beacon of inter‑religious understanding and academic excellence.
He assured the 2005 graduates of Religious Studies that the University would make full use of the materials and expressed the hope that the partnership would extend beyond a one‑off donation.
“We welcome this spirit of giving back and look forward to more collaborative projects that would benefit both the University and the wider Delta community”, Asagba remarked.
The event was nostalgic, with the Speaker and his former classmates exchanging pleasantries with former lecturers and posing for a group photograph.
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