By Omeiza Ajayi

In order to encourage the production of more first class students and also enhance their marketability, the University of Port Harcourt UniPort Alumni Association has announced plans to build a 100-room high-flyer hostels for exceptional students of the institution.

President of the Alumni, Senator Darlington Nwokocha disclosed this on Monday in Abuja when he, alongside the Prince Tonye Princewill-led Board of Trustees BoT of the Alumni paid a courtesy visit on the Chairman of Council and Pro-Chancellor of the University, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.

According to him, the hostels will be well -equipped including having an electronic library to facilitate enhanced learning.

He said; “How this will run will be, by the time we build 100 rooms well-equipped and with mini-library and e-library, we will now go and bring competent hands that will run it to find out those who are about to make first class or who have been making first class from Year One to Final year, to give a healthy competition among them, so that by the time we produce 400 students every year, they will be open for greater market out there. And when they see the badge, that yes, you live in a high-flyer hostel, everybody will know that you are a high-flyer. So it will bring a healthy competition among the students.

“There will also be a museum, an alumni hall of fame, to preserve our legacy and inspire generations”

Meanwhile, as part of its contribution to food security in the country, the alumni said it will also establish an Agricultural Hub, leveraging on the expertise of its members, students and faculty to boost food production.

On his part, Senator Ohuabunwa said the University of Port Harcourt is fast becoming a global centre of excellence as the institution is daily inundated with calls for partnership from different countries.

“Every day, the university is inundated with calls from all parts of the world – Germany, China, US and others. They want to set up centres in the University of Port Harcourt. The management just came back from Germany. Those who went to China are still there. Globally, people want to associate and collaborate with the University of Port Harcourt and that cannot be complete without the alumni association.

“So I am happy that from what you are saying and what I hear you say today, I want to thank God that at least, the real people, the competent ones are there to take us to where we are supposed to be”, he stated.

Chairman of the Alumni BoT, Prince Tonye Princewill lauded the Governing Council for its achievements within its first year in office, pledging the support of the association for the council’s activities.

He said; “All the complaints of the past are what they are – in the past. You have a willing ally at the alumni level who will support you to achieve all your goals.

“The association is proud to say it has notable members. We have a former president, former ministers, current ministers, former governors and current governors, Nollywood actors and actresses and many others in various fields. This is an inspiration to the younger generation of students”.