THIS WEEK IN RETROSPECT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

The following events took place in the University from Monday 22nd – Friday 26th, July, 2024.

1. The University advertised for the 2024/2025 Post-UTME screening exercise and Direct Entry applications for candidates who obtained a minimum score of 160 at the just concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. Candidates who may wish to do a change of institution to the University of Port Harcourt can do so to enable them participate in the post-utme exercise.

2. We undertook an inspection visit to lecture halls across the different faculties in the University to ascertain the state of our teaching and learning facilities

3. At the meeting of the Principal Officers of the University held with different stakeholders, decisions were reached on several issues ranging from out-of-court settlement with a student, the illegal sales of books and manuals in the university and the need to maintain the sanctity of valedictory/inaugural lectures in the University.

4. The RUFORUM Triennial Conference is set to hold at Windhoek, Namibia. The second triennial conference will have key stakeholders from the industry and education sector brainstorming on a wide range of issues including “Implementing Transformative Higher Education to meet Africa’s Human Capital Needs” in a bid to influence  leadership and institutional development of higher education in Africa. We are scheduled to facilitate a session and also give keynote address on Leadership and University Development ; the University of Port Harcourt experience at the event.

5. In a bid to address the growing challenge of power generation in the University, we met with some families (host communities) to explore out-of-court settlement on the proposed land for the building of a solar plant in the University. The meeting was aimed at fostering  cooperation with the families for greater development of the University and host communities.

6. The Niger Delta Students Union executives under the leadership of Comrade Scott Ogunseri presented an Award of Excellence to the Vice- Chancellor in recognition of his outstanding contributions to humanity.

7. We were at the Graduation and Prize giving Ceremony of the University of Port Harcourt Demonstration Primary School where we were thrilled with the brilliant performances of our children. In recognizing the sterling academic strides of the School, we commended the efforts of the School Management in ensuring quality education.

8. The South-South training for Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria was hosted in the University. Receiving the Representatives of the Registrar of the Council, we thanked the Council for choosing the University as a training destination.

9. Goodbye Yesterday, Welcome Today….and Tomorrow, was the commanding title of the valedictory lecture of Prof. Osi Akpogomeh of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management. In delivering his lecture, the Valedictorian made some recommendations to improve the transportation system in the University of which some have received immediate approval.

10. The Institute of Educational Leadership Practitioners of Nigeria will be hosting her 2024 International Conference on Revolutionizing Education: harnessing innovative pedagogies and leadership for the 21st century students. As a special guest of honour, we shall be attending the conference to enrich the discourse.

11. The University of Port Harcourt shines again. At the Nigeria Genius National Engineering Competition, our contingents from the Department of Mechatronics emerged winners of the competition taking home the star prize of one million naira(N1,000,000.00). We commend the students for being unique and putting the University on the map of champions

12. As a way of bridging the gap faced by prospective corps members, the National Youth Corps Service, Joint and Admission and Matriculation Board and the Student Affairs Department of the University organized a one-day sensitization/orientation programme to prepare prospective corps members on the requirements for pre-mobilization and mobilization exercise.

13. The University paid last respect and farewell to late Professor Benson Evbuomwan of the Department of Chemical Engineering in a Special Convocation organized in his honour. Professor Benson was an unassuming scholar with such aura of friendliness. The University community will greatly miss him. We pray that the good Lord will comfort the family he left behind.

14. We received a delegation from the Faculty of Law, ably led by the Dean, Dr. Edward-Bristol Alagbariya on a courtesy visit to the University Management to felicitate with us as we marked our 3rd year in office. We commended the Faculty for their dedication and commitment to upholding the principles of justice, equity and good conscience.

15. Again, we received an Award of excellence from both the Student Union executives and the Forum of Faculty Presidents in the University. We commended the student body for their effort and positive steering of  the affairs of the student community.

16. Food security is a key indicator for national development; hence, we received the Local Organizing Committee members of the World Food Day Celebration. We charged them to develop research driven solutions to address the growing concern of food shortage.

17. We commissioned a pyrolysis machine that was fabricated by a team of researchers led by Prof. A. I. Hart. The research output was sponsored by TETFund with the help of Boskel Limited. The fabricated machine is capable of producing 100L of diesel from 500kg of plastic waste. We commend Prof. Hart and her research team for such feat.

18. In an exhilarating manner, the 32nd Valedictorian, Professor Ify Nwaogazie delivered star-performance lecture on “Research & Development (R&D) in an Academic Environment: Joy and Challenges” He highlighted his research contributions and the far reaching impact of quality research to personal and institutional development. We participated in the event and wish him the best of life and  health as bows meritoriously from his services in the University of Port Harcourt.

19. Similarly, we participated in the 6th Lecture Series of the Faculty of Agriculture where Prof. Henry Ijeomah exceptionally delivered a lecture on  Tourism and Wildlife at Crossroad. We call on the College and all faculties to take such lectures seriously as it is a way of giving enlightenment to the host communities and general public.

20. History was made today as the the UPWA International Secondary School graduates her first set of Senior Secondary Students after completing their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE). 

We commended the President of the Uniport Women Association and her Management Team for this giant stride, we also expressed our gratitude to the parents and guardians of the students for their support and commitment to education of their children. 

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