Delta Governor, Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed sadness over the death of the Rector of Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, Dr Sele Ebisine.

Ebisine, 61, died in the early hours of Tuesday, in a hospital in Warri, after a brief illness.

He was appointed Rector of the school in January, 2017, at a time that the institution was in dire need of a capable hand with cognate experience to push for its accreditation.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Wednesday in Asaba, said that Ebisine’s demise was a colossal loss to the academic community, the state and the nation.

He noted that it was under the deceased’s watch that the school got full accreditation from National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), to run National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.

Okowa said: “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I mourn with the family, the management, staff and students of the Delta State School of Marine Technology, Burutu, and the Ijaw nation and the academic community over the sad demise of Dr Sele Ebisine.

“The late Ebisine was a great administrator, researcher and academic, who impacted positively on the two institutions he headed in the state.

“His death, at this time, is a huge blow to the plans and vision of the management and staff of the school to make the institution a choice destination and citadel for the training of manpower in the maritime industry.

“As a former Acting Provost of College of Education, Warri, the deceased contributed immensely to the growth and development of the College and he will be sorely missed by the many lives he impacted on.

“Although Ebisine is gone, we are consoled by the fact that his was a life of great accomplishments and indelible footprints in the sands of time.”

The governor prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and comfort all those who mourn the departed academic.

On a positive note, Governor Okowa, also today, congratulated sprint star, Raymond Ekevwo, for emerging Africa’s fastest man at the ongoing 2019 All-Africa Games in Rabat, Morocco.

Ekevwo, a Deltan, ran his all-time personal best of 9.96 seconds to win the men’s 100m event at the Games on Tuesday.

The Governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary commended 20-year-old Ekevwo, who hails from Agadama community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state, for making Delta and Nigeria proud.

He noted that the athlete is a product of the State Government’s constant and huge investment in sports development.

According to the Governor, over years, the State Government has done well in positioning its youths to excel in sports, with the provision sporting facilities across the state.

Okowa said in the statement: “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate an illustrious son of the State, Raymond Ekevwo, on his supersonic victory as winner of the 100m gold at the All African Games in Rabat, Morocco.

“As the state celebrates 28th anniversary of its creation, it is a thing of joy that a Deltan has once again, brought great honour to us by becoming Africa’s fastest man.

“His victory didn’t come as a fluke because, over the years, we have made concerted efforts at promoting sports development in our state by building sports facilities across the state.

“It has always been our firm belief that when you engage the youths in sporting activities, it keeps them away from social vices and we will continue to use sports as a tool to develop our Stronger Delta vision.”

Ekevwo and another Deltan, Utseoritse Itsekiri, came first and third at the event.

Ekevwo had earlier in the year led Florida Central University to break the NCAA 4×100m record and ran the second fastest time of 10.02secs behind Divine Oduduru, another pride of Delta.

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