A non-governmental organization, the Niger Delta Media Practitioners of Nigeria (NDMPN), has presented an award to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, as the ‘Most Distinguished Vice Chancellor of the Year 2024.’ following an assessment of “his record of achievements in the university.”
In his address, Convener of Niger Delta Media Practitioners of Nigeria (NDMPN), Amb. Joseph Asomeji, explained that the association is a group of practicing journalists from the Niger Delta with the intent of bringing to the front-burner issues affecting the development of the region, encouragement of the education of the younger generations and support for persons from the region in public offices.
Amb. Asomeji said they were at the University of Port Harcourt as a complementary to the report of their assessment team lunched and x-rayed the activities of the Vice Chancellor of the university on his innovations to achieving the dreams of the founding fathers of the university and congratulated Professor Owunari Georgewill on his giant strive recorded both in general academics, technology drive, corporate social responsibilities, students/staff welfare as well as conducive environment for business activities to thrive.
The NDMPN convener, who is also the Media Officer of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) while highlighting the achievements of NDMPN, which included co-sponsorship of a bill at the Rivers State House of Assembly on the need for multinationals to adhere to the local content act, partnership with Mayor of Housing, My-Ace China, in organizing a one-day sensitization and reorientation of youths in the region among other things, appealed to the management of University of Port Harcourt, through its vice chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, to partner with the association in the donation of exercise books to selected secondary schools in the three senatorial districts in Rivers State.
Responding on the honour done him, the Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Professor Owunari Georgewill, thanked the media group for finding him worthy of recognition.
“It is with immense gratitude that I accept this award from this body, I do so because, we do know that Journalists are the watch dog of the society, they do their research and finding before making it public, so to be found worthy of this award, to me is something that I cherish.
“I am indeed very glad that the little effort that we put here to make things work as much as we can is been recognized by people outside the university, this award will spor us to do more,” he said.
The vice chancellor further promised to work closely with the NDMPN to reach out to the society particularly the downtrodden and most vulnerable people as the award presentation was the beginning of the partnership just as he advised the media group to remain objective in their reportage, positing the world at large counts on the informations from the media.
