The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) will confer degrees on 14,861 graduands, including 363 first-class honours, during its 35th convocation ceremony, which also coincides with the institution’s 50th anniversary.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, announced this on Monday at a pre-convocation press briefing in Port Harcourt, unveiling a week-long programme of activities scheduled for July 21 to 26.
“This convocation is not only a celebration of academic achievement but also a reflection on five decades of growth, transformation, and innovation,” Georgewill said.
The combined convocation covers students from the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions. Of the total graduands, 9,788 will receive first degrees, 2,008 postgraduate diplomas, 2,131 master’s degrees, and 934 doctoral degrees.
As part of the celebrations, four distinguished Nigerians will be conferred with honorary doctorate degrees. They include:
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Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of Nigeria
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Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
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Aminu Masari, Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)
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Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State
Georgewill described the convocation as “a symbolic season of harvest” for the university, an opportunity to assess progress across academic programmes, research output, global visibility, and institutional infrastructure.
Infrastructure and Energy Milestones
Speaking on recent achievements, the vice-chancellor highlighted significant infrastructure upgrades made possible through federal support, TETFund allocations, and Needs Assessment initiatives. These include:
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Renovation of existing structures
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New faculty and administrative buildings
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Upgraded lecture halls and laboratories
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A state-of-the-art Convocation Arena
“Today, UNIPORT boasts some of the finest laboratories, a modern sports complex, health facilities, and learning environments tailored to produce globally competitive graduates,” he noted.
He also announced the construction of a 10.7-megawatt solar hybrid power plant under the UNIPORT Solar Farm programme, in partnership with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). Once completed, the plant will power the university, the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, and surrounding communities.
“This marks a significant milestone in our renewable energy efforts and our vision for energy sustainability and independence,” Georgewill stated.
Academic Expansion and Global Recognition
In furtherance of its academic development agenda, the university has launched three new faculties:
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Faculty of Computing
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Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
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Faculty of Media and Communications
Georgewill also revealed that over 1,000 students have been awarded scholarships through partnerships with 13 external sponsors, while UNIPORT continues to attract international research grants and strategic collaborations.
Notably, the university hosts two World Bank–funded Africa Centres of Excellence (ACEs):
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ACE for Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR)
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ACE for Oilfield Chemicals Research (ACE-CEFOR)
“These centres are at the forefront of human capital development and conducting world-class research with real-world impact across Africa and beyond,” he said.
Digital Transformation and Institutional Challenges
UNIPORT is also charting a path toward becoming a fully digital university, with plans to establish specialised STEM laboratories, smart classrooms, a cloud-based academic infrastructure, and virtual research environments.
However, Georgewill acknowledged ongoing challenges and called for increased government and private sector support to address gaps in:
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Hostel accommodation
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Staff housing
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Internal road and street lighting infrastructure
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Central administrative and faculty buildings
He also decried the continued encroachment on university land by unauthorized individuals, calling for urgent intervention to protect the institution’s territorial integrity.
“Our journey over the last 50 years is one of resilience and reinvention. With the right support and partnerships, UNIPORT is poised to lead Africa’s knowledge economy into the future,” he concluded.
