The Vice Chancellor of the
University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Ndowa Lale has said that his administration is determined to transform the university into a world-class institution for quality research, teaching and public service.
This was contained in a document made available to The Tide recently at the UNIPORT.
The document stated that Professor Lale assured staff and students of the university that he would achieve his vision by running a transparent, fair and firm administration that would place premium on due process and strict adherence to the proper way of doing things.
According to the document, the vice chancellor promised to search out excellent managers, talented faculty and students to help him achieve the new vision.
He also pledged to explore all available opportunities for aggressive mobilization of funds to meet the needs of a 21st century learning environment.
The new VC further stated that he would build organizational citizenship amongst staff  by adopting a bottom-top approach to policy formulation and implementation, adding that he would work assiduously to turn the institution in retraining and intensive in-house training programmes, seminars, conferences and workshops.
Addressing staff that filled the Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium, Professor Lale disclosed plans to table a working paper before senate on the possible reversion of the academic structure to status quo ante, saying that the collegiate system as presently operated was more expensive and resulted in needless bureaucracy.
He also announced plans to merge some existing centres and institutes with overlapping mandate, as well as rationalize others with a view to reconnecting them with their mother department for effective service delivery.