Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajeinka (left) and the Executive Secretary, National Univeristies Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie, during the 30th Convocation of the University of Port Harcourt, last Saturday.

Vice Chancellor of the
University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Joseph Ajienka, has charged the institution to continue the current spate of development in order to improve to a global centre of excellence by 2025.
Professor Ajienka, who stated this at the weekend during the 30th convocation ceremony of the university, said the second strategic plan, 2015-2020, to guide the development through judicious use of resources and opportunities has been launched.
He gave the charge in acknowledgement of the development  the university has recorded since its inception 40 years ago.
“We appeal to all our alumni and friends to  continue to support the development of the university so that by the time we gather  here in (UNIPORT) to celebrate  the golden jubilee in 2025, this university would have been internationally recognized as a global centre of excellence and ranked among the best universities in Africa and the world.
Speaking in the same vein, the visitor to the university, President Mohammadu Buhari called on the institution to  leverage on the convocation to reflect on its achievements and challenges with a view to recapturing the essence of its establishment  by the founding fathers.
President Buhari, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, urged the school to seek the assistance of corporate organizations and other development partners to complement government funding.
“Universities must strive to build innovation systems to help government solve its  socio-economic and political problems. I urge you to enlist the support  of corporate  organisatioons, alumni associations, philanthropists and development partners to bridge the gaps in government funding of universities in Nigeria”, he said.
This, he continued, is in recognition that in recent times, the efforts of  private sector and government in the expansion of access to university education through the establishment of universities has been unpresidented.
A total of 18,664 graduands convocated  comprising 13,393 under-graduates, and  5271 post graduates, out of which 441 were PhDs, five of which were  honourary.
The five honourary PhD graduands were Mrs Seinye Lulu-Briggs, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, Ichie Nnaeto Orazulike, Chief Solomon Ogba and Dr. Jonathan Fanton.
Responding on behalf of the honourary awardees, Mr Orazulike thanked the university for the  recognition accorded them noting that beyond the  celebration it attracts, it also calls for reflection while hinting that the award was in recognition of their contributions to the university, he noted that such contributions were  made possible by their ability to exploit the huge opportunities inherent in Nigeria.
He, therefore, urged the graduands to, against all odds, never be deferred by  negative  perceptions about Nigeria, and also exploit such abundant  opportunities in Nigeria.

Sogbeba Dokubo