Nigerians Urged to Influence Development in Universities 

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Owunari Georgewill, has called on Nigerians, especially the alumni of the institution to always give back to the community that moulded them by attracting development to the universities.

Georgewill said this during a symposium to mark the inaugural reunion of the UNIPORT matriculating class of 1986, held at the school premises.

The vice-chancellor, who commended the alumni for donating a solar panel set to the institution, said the institution was building responsible citizens who would give back to the community. 

In his remarks, Dr. Paterson Ogun, Chairman of the Planning Committee U86, said not only did they plan to present the solar to the school, but through their years of experience and achievements, they also encouraged the students who are still in the university.

Ogun said infrastructural rot in the country’s university community is due to a lack of proper maintenance culture and called for deliberate and realistic policies by the management of the universities to ensure prompt maintenance that guarantees longevity and derivation of their full benefits.

Ogun called for the intervention of other alumni associations of universities, including those of UNIPORT, in addressing some of the critical needs in the schools, adding that institutions and government alone cannot completely take care of all the challenges for enhanced quality learning and research.

“In conceiving this programme, we thought it was not just sufficient to provide a solar light, see you and leave VC. We left this university 33 years ago, and we needed an opportunity to talk to the students who are here,” Ogun explained.

In his presentation, a former general manager of a popular bank in the country, Mr. Francis Ekonye, advised the students to embrace the things that can influence positive development in their lives and society.