…Tonye Princewill emerges BoT Chairman as alumni launch development agenda

By Daniel Abia

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) Alumni Association has unveiled a major development initiative, including the launch of a functional agro hub aimed at promoting food sufficiency and entrepreneurship amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.

The agro hub was unveiled alongside three other flagship projects during the inauguration of the association’s newly constituted Board of Trustees (BoT). National President of the Alumni Association, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, a former Minority Whip in the Senate, described the event as a defining milestone in the association’s history.

He commended the caliber of individuals selected for the Board, noting that their ratification by Congress reflected the trust and confidence they enjoy across the alumni body.

“We will look to you for wise counsel, critical review, and strategic alignment as we embark on our vision to Reconnect, Reinvest, and Reposition the UNIPORT Alumni Association,” Nwokocha stated.

Other projects unveiled include:

The High Flyer Scheme and Premium Hostel – to reward academic excellence and provide quality student accommodation.

A Library, Museum, and Alumni Hall of Fame – to preserve institutional memory and celebrate alumni achievements.

An Alumni Bakery and Bottled Water Plant – designed to promote social enterprise and support financial sustainability.

The inauguration, attended by members of the National Executive Council, Chapter Presidents, and notable alumni worldwide, was widely hailed as historic and transformative.

“Today, we constitute a Board that will serve as the moral compass, legal backbone, and strategic guardian of our Association’s long-term vision,” Nwokocha said.

Leading the newly inaugurated Board is Prince Tonye T.J.T. Princewill, a respected politician, entrepreneur, and longstanding advocate of the alumni body. Other members of the Board include Dr. Patterson Ogon, Hon. Anayo E. Nwonu, Mr. Samson Akpibere, Mr. Austin Okeze, and Ms. Chiadikobi Emmanuella-King.

In his acceptance remarks, Princewill expressed humility and a sense of duty, stating: “We are here not to preside, but to serve — as stewards of integrity, guardians of trust, and partners in the progressive transformation of this association.”

He pledged close collaboration with the National Executive Committee to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with the association’s strategic vision.

“Beyond the letters of the constitution lies a deeper obligation: to lead with compassion, act with integrity, and ensure that every decision we take strengthens the foundation of this association for future generations,” he added.

The event concluded with a renewed call for unity and shared purpose as the association charts a new course for societal impact and institutional advancement.

Notable members of the UNIPORT Alumni Association include former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Nyesom Wike, current Governor Siminialayi Fubara, and Governor Alex Otti, who served as the immediate past BoT Chairman.