(DDM) – The Delta State Government has officially received the report of an investigative committee on alleged certificate racketeering at the Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme, received the findings during a ceremony in Asaba, the state capital.
The report was presented by Sir Christopher Osakwe, who chaired the investigative committee mandated to probe the disturbing allegations.
The Deputy Governor assured that the state government would take decisive executive action based on the committee’s recommendations.
Onyeme stressed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori remains committed to restoring accountability and credibility across state-owned academic institutions.
He further promised that the executive would not hesitate to implement reforms that will permanently address the flaws uncovered.
According to officials, the committee’s work focused on allegations of certificate racketeering involving staff members of the polytechnic.
The report examined institutional lapses that enabled fraudulent practices to persist and recommended steps for ensuring academic integrity.
Among the issues highlighted were failures in oversight, inadequate disciplinary measures, and weaknesses in student record management.
The committee insisted that disciplinary action against culpable staff must be sustained to deter future violations.
It also advised the strengthening of administrative frameworks to close loopholes that fuel corruption in the education sector.
Onyeme assured that the state government would act swiftly and transparently to restore public trust in the institution.
He emphasized that the findings would not be swept under the carpet, noting that the government has zero tolerance for academic fraud.
Present at the ceremony were top state officials, including the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Tonukari Johnbull.
Others included senior representatives of the Ministry of Education, as well as members of the investigative panel.
Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the move, urging the state government to implement the report in full.
Observers note that the Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic scandal has cast a shadow on Delta’s higher education system.
Analysts also point out that certificate fraud undermines the credibility of state institutions and damages graduate prospects in the labor market.
Community leaders in Ogwashi-Uku expressed relief that the state government is confronting the scandal decisively.
They urged the governor to ensure that sanctions are applied without favoritism or political interference.
The government insists that the case will serve as a deterrent to those considering fraudulent practices in academic environments.
Education experts agree that the integrity of qualifications from state-owned institutions must be preserved to maintain public confidence.
The state government’s handling of the Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic scandal is now seen as a litmus test for its commitment to accountability.
