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UniPort Ends Orientation For 9,450 New Students

By Sam Kpenu

The immediate past Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Okodudu, has advised the over 9,000 new students admitted into various degree programmes of the Institution for the 2020/2021 academic session to set forth at dawn so as to excel in their academic pursuit. He made the call while declaring open this year's Orientation programme organised for freshers on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at the Convocation Arena. Professor Okodudu, who described students as the greatest asset of an academic institution, admonished the new students to see themselves as assets to the University. He advised them to make the best use of the opportunity offered them through their admission to study in the University, congratulating them for scaling through the rigorous and competitive admission process. “I congratulate those of you that made it to this University for this academic session. University of Port Harcourt is a choice brand that always attracts a large number of applicants. For this session, over 21,000 candidates applied to study here with over 13, 000 meeting the minimum admission requirements. Out of this figure, just over 9,400 made it. So, you are extremely lucky to be here. I therefore, urge you to behave yourselves in tandem with the rules and regulations of the University,” the immediate past Acting Vice Chancellor said. Professor Okodudu said the essence of the Orientation was to acquaint the students with their new environment and its new sets of rules, culture and people. He said: “this new environment is guided by rules that are sacrosanct and which you are expected to abide by. It is quite different from your Secondary School experience because you have freedom here. “You take responsibility for your action(s), therefore, maturity is critical to your daily living. This Orientation will expose you to what is expected of you as a student. Resource persons have been selected to address you, encourage and advise you appropriately. Some of them are products of this University who sat like you many years ago and who, by the mercy and grace of God, have become great today. That is why it is important to hit the ground running in order to achieve excellence Professor Okodudu enjoined the new students to see the Management and staff of the University as their local parents with an abiding interest of the students throughout their stay in the institution. “Feel free to relate with staff, especially those of them in the Student Affairs division. UniPort is peaceful and I expect you to add value to this peace by shunning all youthful exuberance. We have zero tolerance for cultism and other social vices here. We emphasise the importance of character in addition to learning,” Professor Okodudu added. In his welcome address, the Acting Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Adekunle Sofolabo, urged the students to make good use of the opportunity of gaining admission into one of Nigeria's best universities. One of the Resource Persons and the Director, Academic Affairs, Dr Agatha Ataga, who addressed the students on “The Rules and Regulations Governing the Conduct of Students in Academic Matters” emphasised the importance of complying with the extant rules of the University, saying that ignorance would not be accepted as an excuse for defaulters. She urged the new students to strive for excellence in their academic pursuit and be good ambassadors of the University.
 

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