{"id":2330,"date":"2026-07-26T01:32:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T00:32:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/?p=2330"},"modified":"2026-07-26T01:32:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T00:32:18","slug":"delsu-vice-chancellor-calls-for-stronger-town-gown-relations-at-annual-community-dialogue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/?p=2330","title":{"rendered":"DELSU Vice Chancellor Calls For Stronger Town-Gown Relations At Annual Community Dialogue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Toje Peace Robo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vice Chancellor of Delta State University (DELSU), Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, has called for stronger collaboration between the university and its host communities, warning that poor relations could undermine both the institution’s development and that of the surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Asagba made the call during the university’s Annual Town-Gown Dialogue held in Abraka, where community leaders, traditional rulers, students, and members of the university management gathered to discuss issues of mutual interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A university does not exist in isolation. We are part of this community, and the community is part of us. When there is peace and mutual respect, everyone benefits. Students learn in a safe environment, while the community benefits from the economic and intellectual resources the university brings,”<\/em> the Vice Chancellor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event, which has become an annual tradition, brought together representatives from Abraka, Ogharafe, and other host communities to discuss issues ranging from land disputes and environmental concerns to security and employment opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community leaders expressed concerns over what they described as the marginalization of indigenes in the university’s employment process, particularly for non-academic positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Representing the Ovie of Umiaghwa-Abraka Kingdom, a palace chief urged the university management to prioritize qualified community members for employment in security, cleaning, and maintenance services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding, Professor Asagba acknowledged the concerns and announced the establishment of a Town-Gown Relations Committee to address grievances and coordinate joint initiatives between the university and its host communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The committee, he said, would include representatives from both the university and the communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On security, the Vice Chancellor announced plans to install additional surveillance cameras at strategic entry and exit points across the campus while strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilante groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Security is everybody’s responsibility. We are calling on community leaders to help us protect our students and staff,”<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students also had the opportunity to speak during the dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) commended the Vice Chancellor for creating a platform for engagement but appealed for quicker intervention in disputes involving student accommodation and rising rents charged by landlords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most engaging moments of the event came when women traders operating within the university’s commercial areas complained of alleged harassment by security personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Asagba assured them that the matter would be investigated, emphasizing that the traders remain valued members of the university community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Annual Town-Gown Dialogue continues to be regarded as an important platform for promoting peaceful coexistence between DELSU and its host communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing the event, the Vice Chancellor expressed optimism that the discussions would produce practical results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Today is a beginning, not an end. I am committed to ensuring that Delta State University remains a neighbour its host communities can be proud of,”<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Toje Peace Robo The Vice Chancellor of Delta State University (DELSU), Professor Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, has called for stronger collaboration between the university and its host communities, warning that poor relations could undermine both the institution’s development and that of the surrounding communities. Professor Asagba made the call during the university’s Annual Town-Gown Dialogue […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"iawp_total_views":14,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,14],"tags":[31,25,26],"class_list":["post-2330","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abrakametro","category-trendingnews","tag-abraka","tag-delsu","tag-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2330"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2332,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330\/revisions\/2332"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2330"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2330"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mediaconversation.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2330"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}