RSG Endows Five Academic Chairs In UNIPORT

The Rivers State Government has instituted five academic chairs in the University of Port Harcourt to legalise four prominent sons of the state.

The fifth was endowed in the name of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Part (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi announced the professional chairs at the Weekend during the 29th Convocation ceremony of the Institution in Port Harcourt.

Among prominent sons idolised by the new academic chairs include Retired Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte For Law, Prof Tekana Tamuno for History, Prof Tam David-West for Virology and Emeritus Prof Tonti Nduka for Education.

The chairs he announced will be funded by the Rivers State Government, including Alhaji Bamanga Tukur on that of Business Studies.

The governor used the forum to also announce the state government intervention to resolve the land encroachment problems faced by the university, “we will meet with chiefs and people of Choba to determine the level of encroachment and compensation.”

“Now that the village has not moved into the university, we will meet once every month until we resolve the issues of land.”

Amaechi frowned at the current land problems faced by the university saying, if nothing is being done to address the matter, the institution will in the future have difficulty in expansion and development.

He explained that measures are being taken to forestall similar problem in the new State University of Science And Technology in Greater Port Harcourt City.

He thanked the University for the honour given to him, as he lauded the honorary graduands and students for their hardwork and wished them God’s blessings in their endeavours.

Earlier, Chancellor of the University, Menu Tonyi, Oba Okran of Badagry had lauded the governor for the continued support given to the University by building of faculty block and intervening during last year UNPORT 4 murder crisis.

He called for continuous peace and cooperation from the students and host communities, arguing that dialogue remains important for development and growth of the institution.

Oba Okran of Badagry congratulated both the doctorate awardees and graduating students for their hardwork, while urging them to fly the flag of the school high in all endeavours.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Joseph Ajienka described the convocation as, “an intellectual harvest,” noting that this is the third since his assumption of office.

He enumerated various achievements recorded in the institution in the areas of Research and Development, Arts, Oil and Gas, Agriculture and most especially the accreditation of its Pharmacy School.

Prof Ajienka while lauding the federal government for providing subvention to the university, recommended that such financial assistance be converted to loans to assist indigent students in paying their fees.

He also appealed to the federal authorities to use the school to assist in averting flooding problems as recorded last year, by establishing an “Early Warning System” in the university.