THIS WEEK IN RETROSPECT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

The following events took place from Monday 13th to Friday 17th January, 2025

1. In line with the statutory functions of the National Assembly to undertake oversight functions on Federal Government owned institutions, we honoured the request of the House of Representatives Committee on University Education and the Senate Commitee on Tertiary Education and Tetfund for 2025 budget defense

2. The University of Port Harcourt through CITE received research equipment from EU-Erasmus Embedded Artificial Intelligence. We are the coordinating University for the program. Other universities including ATBU, OAU, UOA and MOU will receive the research equipment from us. We are indeed grateful to the European Union for this critical infrastructure intervention.

3. In continuation of our mentorship programme to the Wigwe University, the University of Port Management Team, Provost and some deans visited the Wigwe University on a working tour to assess the enormous facility and serene environment of the institution. We interacted with the Management, members of staff and students of the University and we were highly impressed by the well crafted international standards governing the activities of  staff and students of the University. Impressively, the University currently runs 23 programmes.

4. Again, University of Port Harcourt has been selected as the first University in the South-South region of Nigeria for the establishment of a Medical Simulation Laboratory by TETFUND. The University was greeted by this cheering news when we received a delegation from the Fund led by Professors Galadanchi and Uche as they visited the University for evaluation. 

5. At the 195th Inaugural Lecture delivered by Professor Fidelis Allen of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, the CBN Centre of Excellence, venue for the Lecture was filled to capacity as the Inaugural Lecturer delivered yet another thought-provoking lecture on “Power: Predators and Preys” drawing analogy from the inequality arising from human interactions. The predators according to Professor Allen include political parties, government officials, security agencies and multinational corporations amongst others while the prey constitutes the common man.

6. The Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences elects a new Dean. We congratulate Professor Obiorah as he emerged Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences. We participated at the Faculty Board Meeting to elect a new Dean and congratulated Prof. Obiorah on his assumption as Dean and urged him to continue to give his best in repositioning the Faculty while encouraging Faculty members to accord him the needed support.

7. University of Port Harcourt again is the choice destination as the Rivers State Government led by the Honourable Commissioner of Sports, Barrister Green accompanied by Professor Ken Anugweje and others paid a visit to the University to inform of the desire of the State Government to use the University facilities to camp and train her athletes in preparation for the National Sports Festival 2025. The Rivers State Government will carry out a facility upgrade to ensure the athletes have access to the best training facilities.

8. The University of Port Harcourt Women Association organized a one-day prayer summit with the theme “He shall call upon me, and I will answer”. They gathered as intercessors to raise an altar of prayers for the entire university community, the State and Nation.

9. University of Port wins as Professor Lucky Legborsi Nwidu of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences along some other scholars from Mexico and Vietnam were announced as winners of the 2024 Henri Boulard Award. The prestigious Award is awarded to top scientists whose works are geared towards bringing policy changes and innovations. We commend the Bioccodex Microbiota Foundation for its commitment to excellence. A big congratulations once again to our dear Prof. Lucky L. Nwidu.

10. ⁠Professor Nwidu has assumed duties as the new Dean of Faculty as he took over the responsibility from the immediate past Dean Prof Sydney Aprioku who had completed his tenure as Dean. 

11. ⁠The Council committee on students welfare undertook a comprehensive tour of the students hostels on campus with a view to improving the standards of the hostels, making more conducive for students stay. 

12. ⁠Preparations are in top gear for the resource verification of our new medical laboratory sciences programs as well as some new programs on artificial intelligence in our Centre(CITE). We received the Provost of the College of health sciences, the Director of Academic Programs, the Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences and other staff of the faculty to fine tune our preparations. We also received the Director of CITE to review the preparation for the resource verification of the new program in CITE

13. ⁠Academic activities have full resumed in the University as lecturers and students are fully engaged with lectures, seminars, laboratory work etc. we commended all staff and students for their commitments to teaching, learning and research in the University.

We appreciate the roles you all played at your various designated units during the week under review.

Do have a great weekend.

Prof. Owunari A. Georgewill,
FRSB, FIIA, FWASOT, FCSI, FFs, FWASOP, FECRMI, FIARSA, FIHSC , DFCIHTMA.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt