The Ijaw National Congress (INC) Worldwide has urged President Bola Tinubu to facilitate the establishment of a nursing school in Patani and a polytechnic in Bomadi, both Ijaw-speaking areas of Delta.

Benjamin Okaba, the president of INC Worldwide, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Okaba said the appeal became imperative given two bills before the Senate sponsored by Joel Onowakpo, representing Delta South Senatorial District. The bill sought to establish the two schools in those areas.

“We humbly appeal to President Bola Tinubu to leverage his presidential influence to support the swift passage of these bills through the National Assembly and to give his assent promptly once they are passed,” he said.

He said Ijaw people globally were thrilled at the prospects of having such higher institutions finally located in their long-neglected communities.

Mr Okaba also appealed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, to accelerate the hearing of the bill.

He also said the bill was significant because it would go a long way in addressing the long-standing educational aspirations of the Ijaw people of Delta.

“The significance of these bills cannot be overemphasised as they directly address the long-standing educational aspirations of the Ijaw people of Delta State,” he said.

The INC president said that for decades, the Ijaw people of Delta consistently advocated the establishment of higher institutions in their areas.

Mr Okaba said the government had “turned deaf ears” to their appeal, noting that nearly all ethnic groups in Delta have benefitted from state and federal institutions.

“These include universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, nursing schools, and specialised medical schools, while in contrast, the Ijaw areas have been systematically overlooked.

“Regrettably, this marginalisation persisted in spite of Ijaw representatives serving in parliament for extended periods, some for over two decades,” he said.

(NAN)