By Chancel Bomadi Sunday

BOMADI — A new private institution, Zoro International Open University (ZIOU), has been established in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, with the aim of expanding access to tertiary education for residents of riverine communities.

The university authorities said the institution was created to address the growing educational needs of young people in the riverine areas, where access to higher education has remained a challenge due to geographical limitations.

The management of ZIOU disclosed that admission into the university would commence soon, adding that all necessary arrangements and operational requirements for the take-off of academic activities had been completed.

The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Osadi Benemone, said the establishment of the institution would provide opportunities for students in riverine towns and villages to pursue higher education without the difficulties often associated with travelling long distances to urban centres.

He assured that the university had met the required conditions for commencement and was committed to providing quality education through diverse academic programmes.

The institution currently offers programmes across four faculties, including the Faculty of Sciences, with courses in Agricultural Science and Computer Science; Faculty of Arts and Humanities, offering English Language, Philosophy, Psychology, Mass Communication, International Relations and History.

Others are the Faculty of Education, with programmes in Educational Management, Public Health Education, Social Studies and Biology Education, as well as the Faculty of Management and Social Sciences, offering Accountancy, Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Marketing, Political Science and Criminology.

The university management said the institution would continue to expand its programmes and contribute to improving access to tertiary education in Delta State’s riverine communities and beyond.