News
Time Lists UNIPORT VC Among Top 100 African Change Makers …Presents Medal Of Honour, Awards
The Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Owunari Georgewill, has been honoured by Time Africa Magazine, as the Change Maker of the Year 2022.
Time Africa is an International Biweekly Magazine with a culture of excellence with correspondents across the nations of Africa.
A statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer,Dr Sam Kpenu, in Port Harcourt,said the presentation of the awards to the VC was done, last Monday, at the Vice Chancellors Office, University of Port Harcourt by the Chairman of Time Africa Board, Rory Knight based in Washington, DC, United States of America.
The statement quotedKnight as saying that Georgewill was honoured because of the highest level of excellence and achievement in his field, his impacts which have a lasting legacy in Nigeria, the continent and around the world.
The statement said the board chairman, who was represented by the Managing Director andEditor-In-Chief of the magazine, Chidi-Peters Okorie said, “African 100 Award/Medal of Honour is bestowed on Professor Owunari Georgewill based on three criteria: outstanding research, unusually effective teaching, and distinguished professorial service.
“Today, he is given this medal of honour and listed among the African 100 due to his high impact performance, and I hope that this honour shall bring to Professor Georgewill a feeling of accomplishment and encourage him to move forward with increased confidence and strength,” he said.
Knight said the University of Port Harcourt has become Africa’s education game-changer, shifting from teacher-centric education to student-centric education, noting that Geogewill, upon assumption of office, has made history through his fearless, strong, and determined programmes that have set transformational agenda for a competitive University of Port Harcourt.
He described Georgewill as a reformer who has introduced several reform programmes that have brought the university’s management closer to staff, students, and stakeholders through “This Week In Retrospect” and “Welcome To A New Week”.
Knight said, “under Georgewill’s leadership, the university has made tremendous progress in areas of academic, international collaborations with universities in Africa and Europe as well as Canada and the US, and has attracted government and international organisations in the infrastructure uplifting of the university”.
The international magazine also noted that from available records, the university was currently a construction ground for faculty buildings, hostel accommodation buildings, professorial office buildings, staff office buildings, classrooms, lecture theatres, lecture auditoriums, solar power for electricity supply, academic excellence with the participation of staff and students in local and international conferences, workshops, seminars, and post-graduate training, amongst others, and expressed the hope that these awards; the medal of honour and African 100 would spur him to greater heights by not relenting on his oars.
Responding, Prof Georgewill Owunari expressed appreciation to Time Africa Magazine for the recognition, and dedicated the award to all men and women of goodwill striving for excellence in their various fields of endeavour and to God Almighty.
He said the journey so far has been interesting, and revealed that he would use every opportunity at his disposal to present the university to the national and international levels.
He described himself as a servant who works along with other members of staff (teaching and non-teaching) and students to perform at optimal level to develop the university.
He told his audience, “Since my assumption of office on July 13, 2021, justice and fair play have been my watchword. I provide equal opportunity for all, irrespective of tribe, religion, or gender. I give high consideration to gender parity in all my appointments, and maintain the rule of law in all my actions by playing by the extant rules of the university”.
He assured the organisation that he would not be scared to delve into uncharted waters, saying that that has been the conveyor belt that has enabled him to continue to thrive in leaps and bounds; creating an engaging environment to nurture academic growth and encourage a culture of research and development, teaching and learning as well as community service.
By: Amadi Akujobi
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite the prosecution of the Director of the now distressed MBA Forex Trading, Mr. Maxwell Odum, in the interest of justice.
The Rivers State NUJ made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the EFFC’s Ag. Zonal Director, ACE Hassan Saidu, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The council’s chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, said the appeal became imperative after it considered the number of Nigerians and others involved in the financial misconduct.
According to him, it has caused hardship among many households in the country and should be given the attention it deserves.
He said that investors cannot come into a country or invest in an economy or nation ridden with fraud.
This, he said, has made it more imperative to arrest, prosecute and convict alleged fraudsters like the MBA Forex Director, who is alleged to have defrauded thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians, to serve as a deterrent to others.
The chairman also requested that while the trial lasts, part of the swindled funds should be given to the victims that suffered loss and trauma as a result of the fraud.
The NUJ reiterated its resolve to change the narrative of reportage from crisis to developmental communication.
According to him, the NUJ’s main focus is blue economy and tourism.
He expressed the readiness of the Council to partner the agency in the area of information dissemination.
“We believe you have a responsibility to fight financial crimes. We also know that you need the Press to publicize your activities and NUJ can provide that,” he said.
Responding, the Zonal EFFC’s boss commended the NUJ’s vision to change the narrative of reporting from crisis to developmental communication.
According to Saidu, the Western world have since imbibed such culture, hence the negative stories about them are carefully sifted to allow only positive ones to be released to the outside world.
As for the trapped funds to be released, the EFCC Zonal Director stated that only the court can authorize such action, stressing that the primary responsibility of the Commission is to arrest and prosecute.
He pledged to partner with the NUJ now that the leadership has visited the Commission.
The Head of the Legal & Prosecution Department, DCE Odiase Stephen, corroborated the Zonal Director’s position and stressed that it was only when the matter has been determined by the court that such funds can be released.
He further stated that once a matter is before a court of competent jurisdiction, it cannot be discussed outside.
By: King Onunwor
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