THIS WEEK IN RETROSPECT IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT

The following events took place from Monday 16th to Friday 20th June, 2025

1. We are glad to inform the University community that preparations are in top gear for the hosting of our 50th Anniversary Celebration and the 35th Combined Convocation Ceremony scheduled to hold from Monday 21st July through Sunday 27th July 2025. As part of activities of the Convocation Ceremony, Honorary Doctorate Degree would be conferred on some distinguished Nigerians for their laudable contributions to the Nation in their respective endeavors.
2. It was all shades of joy for the final year medical students with the release of MBBS examination results in Medicine, Surgery and Preventive & Social Medicine and with this, the University is set to induct 106 new medical doctors. We congratulate the new set of medical doctors for their dedication and commitment to have emerged through the process whilst also commending the Provost, Prof. Angela Frank-Briggs, deans and other members of the College for their dedication to duty.
3. The University of Port Harcourt continues to open the frontiers of international partnership. We are pleased to report that the University was once again spotlighted by the flawless mastery of the Chinese language by Mr. Chinemerem Ugoaru, a staff in the department of foreign languages Uniport as he took a session and taught brilliantly in Chinese Language over there in China in furtherance of our staff and students Exchange programme with China. The University delegation to China was led by Prof. Kalu Wosu. Once again, we commend the Consul General of China in Lagos for this collaboration and support.
4. In readiness for the efficient delivery of its mandate to further entrench the culture of quality research in the University, the Research Ethics Committee under the chairmanship of Prof. Christopher Obiorah organized a 3-day intensive training workshop for members of the Committee to equip them with the necessary expertise needed to carry out their assigned functions.
5. The Committee of Provost and Deans (CPD) met to review the state of preparedness towards the successful hosting of the 35th Convocation Ceremony. After exhaustive deliberations, CPD members were directed to ensure that all degree results for 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 were ready to enable the Registry adequately prepare for the Convocation.
6. Yet again, the University of Port Harcourt opens up a window of opportunity for collaboration with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa. In doing so, we received Darlington Peter Onojaefe from CPUT, South Africa to firm up discussions in areas of exchange, research and training in Management Sciences.
7. The University Management had an audience with Joe and Heather Diioro as they visited the University as part of their engagements at the Youth Friendly Centre. The delegation from the United States of America was led by an alumnus Emmanuel Osigwe. The Youth Friendly Centre was created to engage students in productive activities outside their academics.
8. We participated at the 5th Lecture Series of the Faculty of Law which focused on interrogating the oil sector governance and energy quadrilemma as it redefines the role of law in Nigeria’s Energy Future. The well attended lecture was presented by Dr. Eddy Wifa, a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, University of Aberdeen, UK.
9. The 2025 Annual Conference of the Association of Women Librarians in Nigeria (AWLIN), Rivers State Chapter was held at the University. The two-day program focused on breaking barriers and embracing innovation. The keynote speaker at the event was the University Librarian, Prof. Helen Emasealu. We commend Dr. Millie Horsfall, the State Chairperson of the Association for the well organized conference.
10. We received report of the Committee on AI policy for the University chaired by Prof. Chidiebere Ugwu. Information and recommendations made would be put to use.
11. The Vice-Chancellor has constituted Committee for the 35th Convocation Ceremony, chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic. We are hopeful of a grand celebration as the 35th Convocation would herald the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the University.
12. The Anatomical Students Society of Nigeria, University of Port Harcourt, conferred on us Award of Honor in recognition of our commitment to students development.
13. Similarly, we received an Award of Appreciation by the Department of Electrical/Electronics, Faculty of Engineering, in recognition of our commitment to excellence and progress of staff and students of the University. We commended Engr. Mrs. Nkolika Nwazor and members of staff of the Department for their efforts and support towards the growth of the Department.
14. We are glad to report that the construction of the building for Fisheries Department, Faculty of Agriculture is now completed and shall soon be put to use.
15. We commissioned the Uniport Students Mall built by the students under the leadership of Com. Lawrence Harmony and commended the Executive Council of the SUG for this initiative.
16. We held an interactive session with the Provost, deans, directors, heads of departments/units of both teaching and non-teaching cadre of the University. The meeting was in partnership with the SERVICOM Unit headed by Dr. Austen Sado and it afforded us time to evaluate our responsibilities and make amends where necessary for optimum service delivery.
17. As we continue in the second semester of 2024/2025 academic year, we paid unscheduled visit to some lecture halls and we are pleased with the level of compliance by staff and students.
18. The final year students of the Faculty of Law commenced their LLB examinations. We visited the exam venue to encourage our students to give in their best as success awaits them. We commend the Dean and other members of the Faculty for their commitment.

Thank you all for the roles you played during the week under review.
Do have a great weekend.

Prof. Owunari Abraham Georgewill,
KSC, FRSB (London), FFS, FIIA, FIRSC, FIIA, FHISC, DFCHITMA
Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt.