The following events took place from Monday 26th to Friday 30th May, 2025

1. We are glad to announce that the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike has fulfilled his promise to fully equip the newly built Convocation Arena with state-of-the-art media equipment. This donation is part of the gains from the visit of the University Governing Council led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Sen. Moa Ohuabunwa to the Honourable Minister in preparation for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the University.
2. On resumption of academic activities, we carried out routine maintenance works on classrooms and hostels. In doing this, the University Management observed the need for change of student foams. Together with the Dean Student Affairs, the Executive Members of the Student Union, we supervised the distribution of new foams to both male and female hostels.
3. We received a team of consultants from the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute who were at the University to make donation of some testing equipment to the Civil Engineering Department. The University Management assured the team that the equipment would be well maintained and used to improve academic output.
4. Two students of the University, Ukwunnah Chinemerem and Agarry Promise of the departments of Geography & Environmental Management and Mechanical Engineering respectively excelled at the AI Quization competition organized for tertiary institutions in Nigeria by FlexiSAF. We commended the students for being worthy ambassadors of the University whilst also appreciating members of staff of both faculties for being part of the success story.
5. We were at the General Studies Unit of the University to interact with staff of the Unit as well as commend the remarkable changes at the Unit as driven by the Director, Prof. Joseph Akhigbe and the Assistant Director, Victor Ibubeleye. We also took time to inspect the renovation work carried out at the Unit.
6. Statistics is the heartbeat of modern civilization, a critical tool for decision making and a reliable tool for research, hence he is seen as the Man in our Neighbourhood. This was the title of the 199th Inaugural Lecture excellently delivered by Prof. Mary Paschal Iwundu. As a distinguished scholar of statistics, the Inaugural Lecturer advocated that statistics should be included as a University-wide course.
7. We participated at the sensitization programme and official launch of Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development, Phase II (TAGDev 2.0) sponsored by RUFORUM in partnership with MasterCard Foundation. We commend Prof. Ibisime Etela, the TAGDev 2 programme coordinator for attracting such a project to the University.
8. We received foreign scholars from the Bonn University, Germany who visited the University in continuation of the Exchange and Linkage programme between both institutions. The visiting scholars interacted with Faculty members from the Faculty of Social Sciences with a view to strengthening existing areas of partnership. We commend Prof. Daisy Onyige for the initiative.
9. The 26th Public Lecture Series of the Faculty of Management Sciences was delivered by Prof. Samuel S. Ogunbiyi. The thrilling lecture “Entrepreneurship Mortality; Home Grown Theories to the Rescue” was brilliantly analysed and homegrown/domestic measures were posited as panacea for dearth in Entrepreneurship.
10. The Association of Educational Management and Policy Practitioners are set to host their 2025 Annual Conference at the University. We received members of the Local Organizing Committee members and other members of the Association on a courtesy visit to the University Management and had fruitful discussion on areas of support.
11. It was a groundbreaking event at the University as we handed over site to TetFund for the construction and furnishing of Central Multi-purpose Research Laboratory to the University. The laboratory when completed will serve as a research hub for universities in the South-South. We, once again convey our deepest appreciation to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and the Executive Secretary of TetFund for this laudable intervention.
12. We participated in the one-day capacity building programme organized for all course representatives and their deputies with the aim of equipping them with requisite knowledge for effective administration of lectures. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari A. Georgewill charged them to be ethical, diligent and worthy role models in the discharge of their duties.
13. The University of Port Harcourt in collaboration with the Boys Care Foundation held a one-day workshop for male students to address fundamental issues affecting the male child on campus.
14. International collaboration is key to increased visibility of institutions and so we are pleased to inform the University that some members of staff are on transit to Boyai University, Romania on exchange and linkage programme funded by Erasmus. While commending Boyai University and Erasmus project for the collaboration, we charged our members of staff to be worthy ambassadors of the University in Romania.

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.