…ITS SIGNIFICANCE AND POSITIVE IMPACTS ON THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
By Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli
Monday 3rd April, 2023 like every other day meant different thing to different persons depending on peculiar experiences, but for the University of Port Harcourt Community, it has gone down in the history of the citadel as a day one of her worthy Ambassadors Chief Samuel Ogbuku Ph.D; the Managing Director/CEO of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) embarked on a One-Day Working Visit to his Alma Mater where he was refined, moulded, groomed, trained, mentored and tutored by outstanding erudite scholars during the various phases and stages of his academic adventure, voyages and development beginning with his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Political Science, Master of Science (M.Sc) in Political Science and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) also in Political Science.
The leadership and management of the prestigious university which was established in 1975 as a second generation university after University of Ibadan (1948), University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (1962), Ahmadu Bello University (1962), University of Lagos (1962), University of Benin (1970) under the current stewardship of renowned Prof. Owunari Georgewill rolled out drums to welcome one of her worthy Ambassadors who is making the citadel very proud in his chosen political endeavour.
The MD/CEO and his entourage were welcomed by multitudes of students and staff who were in very high spirit. They were later ushered into the reception venue with melodious Aluta Chants that was led by the ever corrosive, irrepressible, and indefatigable leadership of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).
The climaxed of the event was when the entourage were entertained with Dance Drama and Melodious Renditions by the University Choir, Theatre Arts Students and others depicting the quality of all aspects of the University Community in line with the Motto of the University which is ‘FOR ENLIGHTENMENT AND SELF-RELIANCE’.
University of Port Harcourt over the years has built and developed high standard which is evidence and manifest in the quality of graduates the school has produced that are making exploits nationally and globally in different fields of endeavours.
President Goodluck Jonathan GCON/GCFR, Chief Timipre Sylva CON; former Governor of Bayelsa State and immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Gov. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike; the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; former Governor of Rivers State and immediate past Minister of Transportation, Agbani Darego; former Miss World, Timi Dakolo Award Winning Singer, Monalisa Chinda, Rita Dominic, Osinachi Joseph Sinach, Yul Edochie, Most Senior Comrade Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli etc are some of the outstanding Ambassadors of the University.
Earlier the Vice Chancellor Prof. Owunari Georgewill during his address raised the need for Continuation of the Abuja UNIPORT Ring Road strategic project that the school started. Renovation of Students Hostels and others.
The Team rounded up the Visit with a Tour of some ongoing NDDC Projects in the school.
It is noteworthy that the presence of the MD/CEO has left unimaginable positive impacts on the University Community especially on the young undergraduates who shall strive and aspire to greater heights like the MD and even beyond.
