Amaechi Splashes N20m On UNIPORT …For Winning NUGA

Dolphins player trying to block a Sharks striker during a league match in Port Harcourt, recently.

Rivers State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has commended the University of Port Harcourt for emerging the overall winner at the last Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) held in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Amaechi who described the victory as overwhelming said he was proud to have schooled at the prestigious University of Port Harcourt. He rewarded the athletes with the sum of N20 million.
He spoke when the athletes of the University led by the School’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ajienka with other officials came to present the trophy to him in Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday.
The governor said the school excels in sports and academics and reiterated his administration’s support for sports and academic development in the university and other institutions of learning across the state.
He congratulated them on their victory and received from the university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ajienka the trophy for the NUGA Games 2014.
Amaechi said: “Let me start by congratulating you and once more tell you how proud I am to be a graduate of Unique Uniport. I have told the Vice Chancellor that we are prepared to work with the University in any regard especially in the area of sports and academic development to ensure that by the time we leave office, Uniport will be an edifice for others to envy.
“Let me also reassure the athletes that it is not our tradition to give out money but we will be compelled by your achievements because they are very overwhelming to say that we would give your Vice Chancellor N20 million for you. That is the reward for hard work. If you don’t pay hard work, you will not get harder work, so we think that that is one way to honour you and to ensure that you will not only win the sixth, you will win the seventh.”
This was the fifth consecutive time the school was clinching the trophy.
Earlier, leader of the delegation and Uniport’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ajienka said that the university won 63 gold medals to once more clinch the trophy.
He commended Governor Amaechi for promoting sports and academic development in the university and across the state.
“Your Excellency Sir, your university is a centre of excellence in sports in Africa and we want to thank you for this wonderful opportunity.
“We have won West African University Games three consecutive times. We have now won Nigeria University Games five consecutive times and each time we scaled new heights. At the 24th NUGA in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife in February, our victory was so spectacular that your university, unique UNIPORT is now branded Unisports.