THIS WEEK IN RETROSPECT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

The following events took place in the University from Monday 25th, – Friday 29th, November, 2024.

1. At the instance of the Visitor, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari A. Georgewill represented the President and delivered his speech at the 49th and 50th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Benin. As with other delegated responsibilities from the Visitor, the University of Port Harcourt Management is appreciative to the Visitor for such national  assignments.

2. We participated in the Meeting of the British Council’s Going Global Conference which held in Abuja in conjunction with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigeria Universities. At the event, we had a side meeting with Prof. Steve Smith, the United Kingdom Government’s International Education Coordinator and had robust discussions on possible areas of collaborations/partnerships between the Nigerian and UK higher education institutions. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari A. Georgewill also served as a Panelist along side the Executive Secretary, NUC at the QAA London Meeting.

3. We extended a welcome note to our returning and newly admitted students as we commence the beginning of a new academic session. As a way of ensuring conducive learning and teaching environment, the University Management conducted an on-the-spot assessment of hostel and classroom facilities for the smooth commencement of the session.

4. As an entrepreneurial University and in line with the global skills and certificate-blended curriculum, we supervised the entrepreneurial training program for our under-graduate part-time degree students as organized by the Entrepreneurial Centre of the University. We emphasized the growing need for the acquisition of skills by all students as they form core requirements for their graduation.

5. We received more teams from the National Universities Commission as we continue the accreditation exercise. We hosted the respective teams to a welcome and exit meeting wherein we extended our warm felicitations to all the teams on this all important national assignment and charged the respective Deans/Heads of departments and members of staff to accord them the necessary cooperation required for a smooth process. At the respective Exit Meetings for Team members of the Faculty of Law and department of Fine Arts; and French we commended the teams for their professionalism in discharging their tasks and wished them well.

6. The University Management joined the Registry Department in rolling out the drums in celebration of the 2024 Registry Week. This year’s Registry Week is the 13th in the series of the Celebration and it commenced with free medicals, health walk and talk as we recognize the place of good health to an effective workforce. We also participated at the Registry Day Lecture with the theme “The University Registry: A Synthetic Analysis” wherein the Guest Lecturer critically examined the role and functions of the University Registry as the engine room of the University. We commend the Registrar, Mrs. Gloria O. Chindah (Ph.D) and the 13th Registry Day Committee for a well planned series of events. The Week will end with a gala night to fete retiring Directors and Deputy Registrars in the Registry.

7. In preparations for the commencement of the Federal Public Service Games 2024, we conducted a joint inspection of the University of Port Harcourt Sporting Complex, the venue for the games. In company of the Commissioner of Sports and Youth, Rivers State Government we took a tour across the facility to ascertain the state of preparedness. We are glad to note that the facility is fully equipped for the commencement of the games.

8. The meeting of the University Principal Officers held on Friday 29th November, 2024 to thoroughly deliberate and take decisions on urgent matters of importance for the smooth running of the University and to attend to staff and student concerns.

9. As a follow-up on our foreign partnership with Zhejiang University, China, we received members of staff of the University who recently returned from China and had robust discussions on establishment of Centre for Post Graduate Programmes, China-Africa Relationship, annual conferences and book publishing.

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