THIS WEEK IN RETROSPECT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

The following events took place from Monday 10th to Friday 14th February, 2025

1. We visited the construction site for the solar power farm; a project with the capacity to provide solar power to the entire University and her surrounding communities and we are glad to report that work is in progress. We commend the Rural Electrification Agency and other partners for this laudable initiative.

2. Evangelist Chidi Ibenado of the Citadel of Glory International Assembly has instituted a scholarship scheme for some indigent students of the university; making a total of thirteen (13) scholarship schemes/benefactors thus far. We appreciate Evangelist Ibenado and call on other individuals/corporate bodies to join the league of strategic partners.

3. The University of Port Harcourt is known as a citadel of innovation, this is proven once again as Prof. Edem Peters of the Department of Fine Arts and Design successfully designed and built a gas klin to aid cleaner and environmental friendly production of fired bisque wares, wood klins to gas klins.  We commend our dear Prof. Edem and the African Regional and Innovation for their support.

4. We undertook a tour of the campus to assess the state of classrooms facilities and overseer teaching processes and immediately directed Engr. Nicholas Abule, Director of Works and Services to replace minor electrical appliances and faults observed.

5. The 7th Induction/Oath-Taking Ceremony for newly qualified and registered nurses was administered by the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to the graduates of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt. At the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari A. Georgewill urged the inductees to give back the nation and be worthy representatives of the University wherever they find themselves.

6. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) Eleme for the Award of Bachelor of Arts (Religious & Cultural Science). We urged them to keep the standards of the University of Port Harcourt by maintaining quality academic and professional service delivery in their Institution.

7. To mark the 2025 Valentine’s Day, the Vice-Chancellor treated his staff to a thirty (30) minutes get-together/lunch to motivate and encourage his staff.

8. We received a proposal for partnership from the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation to collaborate on joint research, scientific project, academic exchange of students and teaching staff. The proposal is being considered and we are optimistic of a fruitful collaboration afterwards.

9. ⁠We received the Dean of Faculty of Agriculture and his team to discuss the need for the expansion Uniport farm beyond a demonstration farm to a farm capable of producing food and livestock for the University community and beyond. We held very fruitful discussions. The issue of having sufficient hectares of land remains a big concern. Efforts are underway to see how we can navigate around the issue of farm land 

10. ⁠The Principal officers of the University met at the 167th meeting of Principal Officers to discuss issues brought before management in order to make appropriate decisions 

11. ⁠As the University Team led by the DVC Academics Prof Kingsley Owete prepares for the management and staff exchange program at the Boyales University Romania, we held discussions on the exchange program and commended the Boyales University Romania for this fully sponsored exchange program for our staff

12. ⁠We participated in the annual general meeting of the Busary department. We joined the Bursar Dr Godpower Obah to appreciate the busary staff for their dedication and commitment in the year under review and urged them to continue to work hard to reposition the bursary department as the engine oil that lubricates the engine of the University 

13. ⁠We wish all of us a very happy valentine  day 2025.

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