By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt – The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has announced plans to enhance its research and development strategy in order to compete globally with Ivy League universities.
Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, the new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of UNIPORT, spoke during his visit to the institution on Monday in Port Harcourt.
He said that modelling after Ivy League schools would foster significant growth for the university, positioning it among the top learning institutions in Africa.
“Renewed and concerted efforts must be made to address challenges being faced by UNIPORT.
“We can draw inspiration from world-class institutions like the Harvard, University of Liverpool, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Oxford and Cambridge.
“These universities have set benchmark in research management, intellectual property policies, and quality assurance that we can strive to emulate.’’
Ohuabunwa emphasised that UNIPORT planned to leverage its research centres, including the Oilfield Chemical Research Centre and the Public Health and Toxicological Research Centre (ACE-PUTOR), to achieve the goal.
“These celebrated African centres of excellence enhance our academic standing and research capabilities, fostering international collaboration and addressing critical societal issues.
“Commercialising our research, intellectual property will help us to promote the university academically and financially.
“Efforts will be made to improve our governance structure, quality of teaching and learning, research, transparent financial management, professional and infrastructural development.’’
The pro-chancellor said that the university would implement a comprehensive four-year plan to improve its operations by using performance targets and measurable indicators to track its progress.
According to him, strategic partnerships with stakeholders like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be pursued to enhance the university’s reputation as a premier learning centre.
“Revenue generation and diversification of funding sources are vital for our financial sustainability.
“We must explore cost-effective and efficient ways to generate revenue while seeking external funding opportunities to support our initiatives.
“UNIPORT is among the highly sought-after university today, but we want to raise the bar to becoming the number ranked in Nigeria, Africa, and one of the best globally,” he said.
Ohuabunwa warned against unethical conducts by both staff and students at the university, promising to implement UNIPORT’s sexual harassment policy.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, pledged the university’s full support for the new governing board’s vision of academic excellence and institutional advancement.
He expressed delight that the board’s vision and guidance would drive UNIPORT towards its goals of becoming a unique university recognised for academic excellence.
“We will persist in our pursuit of academic distinction and institutional advancement, upholding integrity, innovation, inclusivity and the values that have brought us to where we are today,” he said. (NAN)
