UNIPORT Loses 52% Of Land To Communities

The University of Port Harcourt, Choba says it has lost 52 per cent of the original university land to its host communities.

Making this known in his speech at the 29th Convocation ceremony at the university in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka said that the loss of the land was as a result of non-payment of compensation to the host communities.

Apart from the loss of land, the VC said that the institution under his leadership, had enjoyed a cordial relationship with the chiefs of the host communities, particularly the Choba monarch for his understanding.

Professor Ajienka also said that the ban on admission of medical students to the university has been lifted, thereby paving the way for the admission of fresh medical students to the departments.

He stated that the institution had signed an MOU this year with African Trend Television to establish a movie academy, adding that the Faculty of Agriculture has trained over 200 youths form host communities to be self-employed in agricultural ventures.

The Vice Chancellor, however thanked those who have supported the institution to be an entrepreneurial university.

It would be recalled that the vast land occupied by the University of Port Harcourt had become a source of concern to the people of the host communities of Choba, Aluu and even Alakahia in Akpor, who have been demanding for compensation for decades.

Corlins Walter