The University of Port
    Harcourt is billed to establish two more departments in the Faculty of Management Sciences in no distant time.
Dean of the faculty, Professor Emeka Okereke, made the revelation recently when the Department organised its activities as part of activities lined up to celebrate 40 years of academic excellence in the university.
While commending the management of the University for muting the idea of a 4oth anniversary celebrations in his welcome address, Professor Okereke noted the significant strides the faculty has recorded since its inception, adding that it is in line with such developments that the two new departments will be established soon.
“The faculty has made significant progress since it was established in 1980. It started as a Graduate School of Management and today, we have five departments. Plans have reached advanced stages to establish two more departments, namely, Insurance and Entrepreneurship.
“At the moment, the proposed department of insurance has received provisional approval from the Senate Committee on Academic Policies and Programmes (SCAPP), while the proposed department of the entrepreneurial studies is still being evaluated for possible approval”, he said.
Declaring open the event which was held at the faculty’s parking lot, the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Joseph Ajienka, commended the faculty for keying into the university’s landmark celebration by organising a week-long event.
“The faculty of management sciences has contributed immensely to the overall growth of the university and we are very proud of your achievements since inception.
“We congratulate you on this landmark celebration and it is our hope that you will also develop your own strategic plan that would engineer future growth in the faculty to tackle the challenges of the next 40 years,” the VC said.
He used the fora to charge the faculty to improve on its present achievements for not only the advancement of the department, but the university at large.
“Our expectation is that older faculty members would continue to mentor your academics and students to excel in teaching and research staff of the faculty should raise worthy role models that people can look up to as pillars of support in the years ahead.
“We need to expand our coast by making ourselves a more attractive brand to stakeholders in the affairs of the university. Despite the negative views of some implacable critics about the university, there are still many people who want to get that professional management experience from the faculty.
“You have a huge captive market that is yet to be fully tapped and this anniversary celebration offers you a rare opportunity to advertise your potentials to stakeholders. We want to encourage the faculty to take advantage of available opportunities to position itself as one of the best in this university”, he said.
The occasion attracted stakeholders from within and outside the university.