Mrs Daniel-Kalio Blessing, GM Business Development RSSDA (left) chating with Mr Kalada Apiaf during the 29th annual general meeting of Manufacturer Association of Nigeria in Port Harcourt, recently

Following evaluation of two major proposals on oilfield submitted to the World Bank, the University of Port Harcourt has won the Banks grant to set up oil field chemicals, through the institution’s Institute of Petroleum Studies (IPS).
The African centre of excellence (ACE) project Secretary Committee, (PSC) met in Dakar, Senegal on October 28th this year, following the final selection and presentation of the outcome of what is described as rigorous desk evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes that applied for the competitive grant.
The grant implemented under the auspices of Association of  African Universities (AAU) would be the highest outside intervention fund to universities.
The Tide gathered that 53 proposals were submitted for evaluation by West African and Central African Universities while Uniport submitted two proposals pursuant to the establishment of centres of excellence in Agriculture and oil field chemicals out of which 15 tertiary institutions were chosen for the grant worth millions of Dollars.
UNIPORT was awarded the grant in the category of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
A statement signed by the coordinator, communications and Information Technology Department of (AAU), Abigail Nyamson, revealed that seven universities in Nigeria were lucky recipients in health, agriculture, science and engineering. The successful Nigerian Universities are Redeemer’s University, Ogun State University for Health, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja for STEM, Federal University of Agric, Abuokuta, University of Jos, for health, Uniben for health and Uniport for STEM.
The ACE project co-ordinator, Prof. Jonathan Mba led a high powered delegation comprising the managing director of Botho University Botswana, Prof. Sheela Raja Ram, President, European Universities Assocation (EUA), Prof. Maria Helina Nazars and Prof. of Maths of the University of Michigan, USA, Nkem Khumbah to assess the preparedness of the universities on the programme.
Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof Joseph Ajienka expressed gratitude to the project steering committee and AAU for extending the grant to his university.
Prof. Ajienka said the purpose for which it was made would be realized to attract more grants to Uniport.
“I am very enthused to receive the news of such vital grant to this University (Uniport) for which we remain eternally grateful to Almighty God for His abundant grace in seeing our proposal through”, he said, noting that the grant confirms Uniport as African Centre of Excellence in oilfield chemical studies and IPS as an African Centre of Excellence in Petroleum Studies.
“it is a very fitting development as we prepare to celebrate this institute at ten years of uninterrupted academic activities”, the VC said.
The VC who dedicated the grant to Total Exximobil P Limited for the company’s novel innovative thinking in higher education in Nigeria and also dedicated it to the 5th VC emeritus Prof. Nemi Briggs for his foresight, wisdom and resilience in establishing IPS in 2003.
The Uniport VC commended all the line officers who worked had to make the grant possible in view of the stiff competitions with other institutions.
He also thanked the debut Vice Chancellor (Research and Development) Prof Bene Willis Abbey and the director of the Centre of Research Management, Prof. Onyewuchi Akaranta and the Faculties of Engineering and Agriculture for working hard to make the grant possible.

Chris Oluoh