FCTA To Allocate Land For UniPort Centre In Abuja

By: Wisdom Acka

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has promised allocation of a choice plot of land in the nation’s capital for establishment of a Centre of Political Studies for the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Wike made the promise while speaking to members of the University Governing Council during a courtesy visit in his Life Camp, Abuja official residence on Monday.

The Minister, who is an alumnus of the institution, also pledged to provide a state-of-the-art multi-media facility at the University’s convocation arena in its main campus in Choba, a suburb of the State capital.

Also pledging that he, his family and friends would foot the bill for the facility valued at about ₦150 million, Wike explained he was not going to use FCT money for the project.

Urging others who have the opportunity to also help their own, Wike recalled that he also supported the University during his time as Minister of Education and Governor of the State.

The Minister, therefore, charged the Governing Council to maintain the institution as a centre of excellence which universities are meant to be.

Earlier, Chairman of the Governing Council, Sen. Mao Ohoabunwa, told the Minister that the Council visited to congratulate him on his appointment and his “superlative performance as Minister.

Mao also said that the visit was to request for a land to build the University’s Centre akin to John Kennedy Centre in the USA, as well as seek his assistance in the provision of a modern multimedia facility at its convocation arena, which Wike built when he was Governor

In his vote of thanks, the University’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Abraham Georgewill, thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Wike.

He also thanked Wike for his performance as Minister, as well as his contributions to the University.

Georgewill stated that Wike was an alumnus the institution was proud of; revealing that roads leading to the convocation arena and the road in front of the Senate building have been named Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

“We always hold you in high esteem, even the blind can see what you are doing, the deaf can hear what you are doing”, the VC declared.