Presenting Plaques they won at the Competition, which drew participants from all over the Country, the Faculty Adviser of SIFE in UNIPORT, Dr Chineze Uche, expressed delight at spectacular feat attained by the students, attributing it to focus and dedication, including support from partner organizations such as First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Institute of Petroleum Studies and Management of the University, amongst other sponsors.

 

 

Also at the presentation ceremony, Dr Uche revealed that her emergence as Faculty Adviser of the Year 2011, also qualified her to lead Nigeria’s delegation to a SIFE Conference billed for Malaysia later in the year.

 

According to the Faculty Adviser, Benue State University SIFE Team, which took first position at the Competition held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, achieved the feat because of its presentation based on research carried out by Lecturers in the University. She stressed the need for research by Lecturers to be made available to SIFE UNIPORT to ensure excellent outings at future competitions.    

 

Receiving the Plaques, an elated Professor Ajienka, lauded the presentation skills of the Team, which simulated what happened in Lagos. He urged the Team to make the presentations to every Faculty Board, adding that, “The recordings could be presented at Faculty Board Meetings without you being physically present. The slides you just played should also be streamed and uploaded on the University website for all to see your brilliant performance and people-oriented projects”.

 

The Vice-Chancellor, who congratulated the Faculty Adviser and the Team on their awards, said:  “I can imagine the level of commitment, dedication and discipline that permeated your organization as you prepared for this event. You deserve the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for making the University proud and contributing to the socio-economic growth of our host communities.      

 

“We have been talking about entrepreneurship for some time now, put in so much and nothing seems to be happening; what I have seen here today is an encouragement that there is hope”, Professor Ajienka observed, promising to contribute to the SIFE Endowment Fund. He also announced plans to fete the Team at a cocktail party on a date to be decided.   

 

In her contribution, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor Bene Willie-Abbey, urged SIFE members to encourage their friends to emulate them, especially in areas of discipline and productivity. “I am going to ensure that we gather the Faculties together to listen to the wonderful presentation by SIFE”, she promised. 

 

Also speaking, a Friend of the University and Managing Director of PANAM Nigeria, a printing firm in Port Harcourt, Prince Pat Gomero, who was overwhelmed by the performance of the Team, announced a donation of N50,000. “I would like to encourage you to blaze the trail for some others who are equally talented to follow. Those who disparate standards in the Nigerian University system need to see your excellent presentation skills to change their opinion”, he said.

 

Also in attendance were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Ethelbert Nduka,  Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Ndowa Lale, Associate Dean of the Faculty, Dr (Mrs) Amiye Francis, Heads of Department, Professor Ebere Erondu of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Development (IARD), amongst other top officials from the University.