Diri Donates Hall Of Fame To UNIPORT

Notwithstanding, the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), was yesterday suffused with pomp, pageantry and manifold emotions as a business mogul in Rivers State, Mr Sobere Diri, donated the Asikiya Diri (nee Nungo) Hall of Fame building to the university’s faculty of Management Sciences in response to an earlier request by the faculty for the building of a hall of fame.
Diri who sits atop Hamilton Technologies Limited, a three-decade old indigenous fluids services company as Managing Director, said the handing over of the building was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He expressed utmost joy at the completion of the project which he explained was his own way of contributing his own quota to the educational and social development of the university and the larger society.
Stating “unequivocally that the building represents friendship and partnership with the university, Diri explained that “the name of the building was strategic, given the fact that my mother, Asikiya Diri (Nee Nungo) is a woman with a golden heart, whose legacy was that of helping others in need, even at huge costs to her.”
He hinted that his experience as a student of the faculty whose mother struggled daily to ensure he never missed lectures and the dire financial straits of the universities gave impetus to building the edifice to ensure conducive atmosphere for teaching and learning.
Diri who appealed to other alumni of UNIPORT to intervene in the critical needs of the institution donated N5million on behalf of his wife for the provision of some items for the faculty and another N5million on behalf of his children for scholarship to indigent students of the faculty.
He also announced the donation of N5million for the faculty on behalf of his friends.
Lamenting the fate of students in the country, Diri advised youths to be focused and desist from anti-social activities and take their destiny in their hands to enable them succeed in life.
Speaking earlier, the Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Emeka Okere paid glowing tributes to Diri for redeeming his pledge to the faculty, assuring that the Hall of Fame would be put into good use.
Thanking Diri for making the day a reality, he called on other alumni of the institution to emulate his kind gesture.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Owunari George thanked Diri for the great fit of doing the faculty of Management Sciences and the institution the honour of building the structure.
Owunari who commissioned the tastefully furnished structure described Diri as a proud alumni of the institution for single handedly building the Hall of Fame.
Urging other alumni of the institution to emulate Diri, Owunari appealed for more assistance given the lean funds of the university.
The Amanyanabo of Opobo, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, government recognized traditional rulers, and many dignitaries graced the colourful ceremony.

By: Victor Tew