In a determined bid to recognize High Chief Government Ekpomupolo alias Tompolo contributions towards the growth and development of Nigeria Maritime University (NMU) Okerenkoko, Delta State, the Staff of the institution have honoured him with an Award of Excellence.
Presenting the award on Thursday, Mr. Iseru Ebike, team leader of the University staff lauded Tompolo’s patriotic dedication to development of the institution.
Mr. Ebike, a Lecturer of the University said that Tompolo”s numerous intervention projects in the University helped greatly in the overall development of the institution.
According to Mr. Ebike, “we express our deepest appreciation to you for the numerous intervention projects that you have embarked upon for the advancement of our dear university. Your various targeted assistance has gone a long way to ameliorate the various challenges that have confronted the university community.
“You are our single biggest benefactor and we shall continue to hold you in high esteem. Your foresight and futuristic thoughts brought our dear university into life in the first instance.
“While many of your contemporaries were in the craze to invest in foreign jurisdictions, you made the conscious choice to build and equip a multi-billion naira world class institution to train divers in a location that the uninitiated eyes will consider unviable for such unprecedented infrastructural edifice.
“Mieka Dive, which was a project dear to your heart, eventually became the cornerstone of the premier Maritime University in Nigeria – The Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko.
Mr. Ebike said that Tompolo provided a safe haven for the University to run a smooth academic and other social activities for almost six years now since it’s inception.
He spoke further , “we are witnessing the smooth operation of academic and other activities in the university. Almost six years after its take-off, no single incident of kidnapping or any other crime has been recorded anywhere, even remotely close to any of the campuses of the university. You have provided a safe place for us to live, work and learn. We say thank you GOC”.
Receiving the award on behalf of Tompolo, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, Media Consultant to Tompolo said, “it is heartwarming to see that the seed we put in the soil is growing and waxing strong.”
Dr. Bebenimibo, a University Don of the Delta State University(DELSU), Abraka described his boss, Tompolo, as a rare breed, a man full of milk of human kindness.
Dr. Bebenimibo charged lecturers in the institution to do their best in moving the institution to greater heights.
According to Dr. Bebenimibo, “some of you are now Senior Lecturers. Of course, the non-academic staff are climbing the ladder through earned promotions and I believe from here, we will move higher and get to the peak of our career.
“I charge you to do your best, and let’s have this collaboration to move this institution forward. There is none of its kind,” he stated.