Encouraged by the level of ongoing work at the University of Port Harcourt, Gesi Asamowei, business mogul, new pro-chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council of UNIPORT, has pledged active support for ongoing efforts aimed at transforming the University into a world class centre of academic excellence.
Asamaowei gave the assurance when he paid a maiden visit to the University, last Friday, as part of his on-the-spot assessment of the state of the institution, preparatory to the Governing Council’s inaugural meeting next month.
After an extensive inspection tour of the university’s permanent site, the Chairman of Council said he was quite impressed with the efforts being made by the university management to transform the university, adding that “much more needs to be done by all stakeholders to take the University to where we all want it to be.”
He highlighted the importance of education in the growth of any society saying that staff and students are quite enthusiastic about turning the university into a centre of academic excellence through quality research and development.
As a governing council, Asamaowei said they were determined to ensure there was an enabling environment that would motivate staff and students to give their very best to the system.
He noted that, the governing council would be saddled with a lot of challenges and would need to commence action immediately to tackle them headlong, to justify the confidence the Federal Government reposed in them.
The Pro-Chancellor said he looked forward to a cordial working relationship with the UNIPORT management, expressing willingness to make personal financial sacrifices to enhance the infrastructural development of the institution.
He particularly identified the East-West Road junction as a major source of concern that needed to be tackled promptly to ease traffic into the university, promising that he would personally ensure that in about 90 days, something concrete was done to ease the chaotic traffic situation along the section of the road.
According to the governing council chairman, the body is only on ground to assist university management carry out its responsibility of day-to-day running of the university. He promised that the council would make good policies for the university’s effective running.
Joseph Ajienka, the UNIPORT VC, presented a copy of the statutes of the University to the Council Chairman, informing him that the election of six internal members from Senate and Congregation showed that the new Governing Council has been fully constituted to commence business.
Ajienka, while briefing the new Pro-Chancellor on the state of the University, promised him that the University management would give them all necessary cooperation to succeed in their national assignment.
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