Education
UNIPORT: Science Faculty Sues For Partnership With Private Sector
The Faculty of Science of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, has called on the private sector and old students of teh school to partner with the faculty in its quest to lift Nigeria to higher level in Science.
Dean of the Faculty, Professor Ethelbert Nduka made the call recently at a press briefing to mark the faculty’s 25th Anniversary in Port Harcourt.
He noted that the faculty has the manpower and requisite knowledge in science, and capable of lifting Nigeria to be among the leading research countries in the world.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Federal Government and the school authority in terms of provision of equipment, professor Nduka stated that the faculty still need partnership with the private sector and public-spirited individuals in the state and country.
“We seek partnership with the sector to drive and market our research outputs. They should also partner with us to sponsor our researches, particularly in oil and gas, health and general environmental researches,” he said.
For old students, Nduka said they should be “part of the development strides of modern university system by not hesitating to assist in tackling the challenges facing the faculty.
The university Don, noted several areas of research in which the faculty has recorded excellent research breakthroughs.
Such areas, according to him, include optimal management of anthropod pests in field crops, human and animal health, bio fuel and bio resources and stored products.
Other areas are production of drugs in the management of genetic diseases such as sickle cell anaemia and generalised mathematical mode for determining water quality index for beneficial uses.
Meanwhile, Prof Nduka said, there are several ongoing researchers.
In their separate speeches, both Mrs Roseline Konya, a former Rivers State commissioner for Environment and Prof. Levi Amajo emphasised the need research in solving numerous problems.
Sogbeba Dokubo
A professor of Highway Engineering at the Rivers State University (RSU), Prof. Emmanuel Osilemme Ekwulo, has identified poor designs, inadequate materials, insufficient testing, and lack of accountability as major obstacles to the success of highway construction projects in the country.
Ekwulo made this remark in Port Harcourt last Wednesday during the 128th inaugural lecture series of the university, where he presented a lecture titled “Removing Roadblocks: Rebuilding a Foundation for Reliable Highway Pavement Infrastructure.”
The university don lamented the consistent premature failures of road construction projects nationwide, despite huge investments by the government at all levels, attributing the problem to neglected basics and systemic principles in the industry.
According to him, rebuilding the foundation technically, institutionally, and ethically is crucial to building strong and lasting pavements.
Ekwulo emphasized the need for political will, professional integrity, and commitment to engineering excellence to overcome the challenges.
“The metaphoric roadblocks are those challenges causing premature failures,” Ekwulo said, adding that identifying and addressing these roadblocks is key to rebuilding the nation’s highways.
He recommended that institutions involved in road design and construction adopt a mechanistic-empirical design approach, and develop a comprehensive framework for implementing the Nigerian Imperial and Mechanistic Pavement Design System (NEMPADS) approach.
Ekwulo also advocated for mandatory traffic load analysis, strengthened university-industry collaboration, and funding for applied pavement research.
Corruption, he noted, is a major challenge in the profession, saying severe punitive measures are needed to curb shabby practices leading to premature road failures.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described Ekwulo’s lecture as interesting and intriguing, highlighting the importance of implementing solutions to Nigeria’s highway challenges.
The Vice Chancellor also described Ekwulo’s proposals as practical and applicable to government and industry stakeholders.
He said the university is committed to research aligned with national development goals, referencing its NDV-12 responsive consortium production framework.
Zeb-Obipi noted that Ekwulo’s recommendations are timely and solution-driven, and will contribute to addressing Nigeria’s highway challenges.
Akujobi Amadi
-
News14 hours agoRSG Reiterates Commitment To Youth Dev
-
Rivers11 hours agoPolice Launch Community-Centred National Day Celebration In Rivers, Today
-
Business11 hours agoNSCDC Discloses Illegal Dump Site In Ikwerre Community
-
Oil & Energy11 hours agoTranscorp Energy, Renewvia Partner On Renewable Energy Gap
-
Business11 hours agoYenagoa’s Radisson Hotel Ready December — NCDMB, Other
-
Maritime11 hours agoMWUN Raises Alarm Over Port Security Lapses In Lagos
-
Maritime11 hours agoNNS Hands Over Two Suspected Stowaways to Immigration Service
-
Maritime11 hours agoNigerian Navy Plans CMTF To Safeguard GOG