UNIPORT to Confer First-Class Degrees on 363 Graduates at the 35th Convocation

A total of 363 students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) will graduate with first-class degrees during the institution’s 35th convocation ceremony, scheduled to hold from July 21 to 26.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, made this known at a press conference in Port Harcourt on Monday as part of events marking the combined convocation and the university’s 50th anniversary.

According to Georgewill, the ceremony will celebrate graduates from the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions. In all, 14,861 graduands will be awarded degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

Out of 9,788 undergraduates set to receive first degrees, 363 earned first-class honours. At the postgraduate level, 2,008 students will be awarded Postgraduate Diplomas, 2,131 will receive Master’s degrees, while 934 will be conferred with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced that honorary doctorate degrees would be awarded to four prominent Nigerians: First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, TETFund Chairman Aminu Masari, and Adamawa State Governor Umaru Fintiri.

Describing the convocation as a “season of harvest,” Georgewill said it provides an opportunity for the institution to reflect on its achievements in academic development, infrastructure, global visibility, and research partnerships.

He highlighted recent infrastructural upgrades supported by the Federal Government through Needs Assessment, TETFund, and capital project initiatives, which have led to the renovation of facilities, new buildings, and improvements in the university’s learning environment.

UNIPORT now boasts some of the best laboratories, a modern sports complex, fully equipped medical facilities, a counseling centre, an entrepreneurial hub, and a world-class convocation arena, he said.

In line with its renewable energy goals, the university, in collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency, has begun the construction of a 10.7MW solar hybrid power plant under the UNIPORT Solar Farm project. Once completed, the facility will provide steady power to the university, the teaching hospital, and nearby communities.

As part of academic expansion, UNIPORT has established three new faculties: Computing, Allied Health Sciences, and Media and Communications.

Georgewill revealed that more than 1,000 students have benefited from scholarships through partnerships with 13 external sponsors. He also noted that the university had secured international research grants, leading to the creation of two World Bank-funded Africa Centres of Excellence—ACE-PUTOR (Public Health and Toxicological Research) and ACE-CEFOR (Oilfield Chemicals Research).

ATTENTION: Follow 9jaReporters on Instagram for a chance to win ₦100,000 in our Top Fans Challenge!

JOIN NOW to participate and stand a chance to win exclusive prize ons, free airtime, and exciting gifts!

FOLLOW US TODAY! DON’T MISS OUT!

These centres, he said, are critical to regional and global research, as well as human capital development.

UNIPORT is also advancing towards full digitalisation, with plans to introduce STEM labs, smart classrooms, smart boards, and a cloud-based infrastructure for students and staff to access digital academic resources.

However, the Vice-Chancellor appealed for more government support in addressing infrastructure deficits, including hostels, staff housing, internal roads, a central administrative block, and more office spaces.

He also decried the persistent encroachment of university land by unauthorised individuals and called for urgent action to halt the trend.