News
Fubara, Jonathan, Others Celebrate Sylvanus Cookey At 90
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described Prof. Sylvanus John Sodienye Cookey as a selfless Nigerian, selfless Niger Deltan and a proud and wonderful son of Rivers State.
Governor Fubara stated this during the 90th Birthday Celebration of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at the University of Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said “Prof. Cookey is one man that is unique who loves to see his people grow and helps them to achieve their goals, we should learn from his lifestyle so that one-day history will be kind to us by the things we do and the hand we stretch forward to help others, just as history is being kind to our father”.
According to the Governor, the celebrant is somebody who has impacted a lot beyond the University of Port Harcourt, noting that it is not very easy to be one of the first foundation Vice Chancellors of Uniport because they had a lot of stress setting up a new University from a little technical school.
While congratulating the celebrant, the State Chief Executive said the University was flourishing today, which was not the case decades ago when they started and expressed his delight that Prof. Cookey is alive to see that the mustard he planted has grown into a big oak tree.
In his virtual Goodwill message, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said Prof. Sylvanus Cookey was a great teacher who positively impacted the lives of many people across the country, noting that as a public servant and scholar he held different positions of trust where he served faithfully with great patriotism and zeal which includes serving as the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt from 1982 to 1989.
In remarks, the Vice Chancellor University of Port Harcourt Prof. Owunari Georgewill, who spoke through the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Clifford Ofurum, said the institution has decided to leave a lasting legacy in honour of Prof. Cookey, by providing a centre to immortalize him in the University.
Earlier, Prof Joseph Ajienka the 7th Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Organizing Committee disclosed that they were gathered to celebrate a transformational leader who laid the foundation for transforming the University of Port Harcourt into an entrepreneurial University and committed to the University advancement.
The Guest Lecturer, Amb. (Dr) Godknows Igali, the 12th Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, and 2nd Pro-Chancellor Bayelsa Medical University, presented a Lecture Titled “The Historical Public Service and the Luminous Foot Marks of Professor Sylvanus John Sodienye Cookey.
News
Tinubu Appoints Four Nominees Into NCDMB Governing Council

President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
News
NDDC To Construct Hostels, Roads In UNIPORT – Ogbuku

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
News
Senate Rejects Motion To Rename INEC Headquarters After Humphrey Nwosu

The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.
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