Infrastructure Boost Sparks Renewal at Edo State Polytechnic as Okpebholo Commissions NDDC-Facilitated Roads

Kingsley Ohens reporting For Urbanscoopnews

In a significant stride toward strengthening educational infrastructure and regional development, the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has commissioned a newly completed five-kilometre internal road network at Edo State Polytechnic, Usen. The project, facilitated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is being hailed as a strategic investment in campus mobility, student welfare, and long-term socio-economic advancement.

The commissioning ceremony, attended by key federal and state officials, underscored the growing synergy between subnational governments and regional development agencies in driving sustainable growth across Nigeria’s Niger Delta region.

Governor Okpebholo described the road network as far more than a physical upgrade. “This project is more than asphalt and concrete; it represents access, connectivity, safety, and opportunity for thousands of students and staff who use this campus daily,” he stated. Emphasizing the role of infrastructure in academic performance and institutional security, the governor noted that functional road systems within educational environments are foundational to excellence and innovation.

The newly delivered infrastructure comprises 4.8 kilometres of asphalt pavement, including 4.595 kilometres of internal roads and a 205-metre dual carriageway main entrance. The project also features reinforced concrete drainage systems and a 32-metre, 900-millimetre reinforced concrete culvert designed to enhance durability and climate resilience.

According to the NDDC Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai, the design reflects modern engineering standards aimed at ensuring longevity and environmental sustainability. He urged the institution and surrounding community to prioritize maintenance to safeguard the investment.

The governor linked the development to broader national reform efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that improved educational infrastructure aligns with the federal administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He challenged students to reciprocate government support with discipline and academic dedication, positioning the intervention as part of a larger vision for youth empowerment and economic competitiveness.

Further reinforcing the administration’s education-focused agenda, Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, disclosed ongoing human capital development initiatives. These include the sponsorship of seven lecturers to China for advanced training and five students to study abroad under state funding. Plans are also underway to extend fully funded scholarships to Turkey. He added that no student has been sent home over school fees, and all outstanding lecturer arrears dating back to 2022 have been settled.

The Minister of Regional Development, Hon. Engr. Abubakar Momoh, praised the collaborative framework that made the project possible. Reflecting on his earlier involvement in the legislative processes that established the polytechnic over two decades ago during the administration of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion, Momoh described the commissioning as evidence of continuity in governance and institutional strengthening.

Board Chairman of the Polytechnic, Hon. Sam Oboh, expressed optimism that the infrastructural upgrade would reverse declining enrollment trends. Once home to over 10,000 students but currently hosting fewer than 3,000, the institution is expected to experience renewed appeal as improved access and facilities enhance its competitiveness.

In addition to commissioning the roads, Governor Okpebholo donated two new buses to ease student mobility and directed an immediate evaluation of hostel facilities to improve accommodation standards—further signaling a holistic approach to campus revitalization.

Development analysts note that the project represents a model of multi-level governance in action, where federal agencies and state governments converge to strengthen educational institutions as engines of regional transformation.

The initiative was formally communicated in a statement signed by Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to partnerships that deliver measurable impact and accelerate growth across communities.

As infrastructure continues to shape the trajectory of emerging economies, Edo State’s latest intervention stands as a case study in leveraging collaboration to expand opportunity, enhance institutional resilience, and invest strategically in the next generation.