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Tag: UNIPORT

  • World Bank funds Medical laboratory in UNIPORT

    World Bank funds Medical laboratory in UNIPORT

    The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has acquired a Medical Simulation Laboratory to enhance healthcare delivery and training in Nigeria.

    UNIPORT’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari George, will announced the development in a statement issued by the institution’s spokesman, Dr Sam Kpenu, in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

    He said that the World Bank Centre of Excellence in Public Health and Toxicological Research (ACE-PUTOR) in UNIPORT donated the equipment to the institution.

    “The sophisticated medical equipment for training of medical and health workers will be used to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

    “The project, funded by the World Bank, will also be used to enhance education of medical students by providing a link between classroom learning and real-life clinical situations.

    “The procurement demonstrates UNIPORT’s commitment to the development of education in Nigeria, particularly, and in Sub-Sahara Africa in general,” he said.

    Georgewill expressed confidence that the facility would be effectively utilised to produce more excellent graduates who can compete favourably with their counterpart in the country and globally.

    “The use of simulation has become increasingly relevant in the changing trends of training medical and health workers to acquire the right knowledge and skills in the evolving landscape.

    The vice-chancellor commended the World Bank for its contributions to the university’s educational development.

    The Leader of the centre, Prof. Daprim Ogaji, revealed that the centre was operated by a multidisciplinary team with a vision to provide leadership and communicate best practices in research, training, and innovation.

    “The simulator is a world class, high-fidelity equipment that simulates across various specialty training in medicine.

    “The equipment will provide learners with real-world opportunities to develop and practise their knowledge and skills in a simulated environment,” he stated.

  • Police arrest UNIPORT student for allegedly stabbing girlfriend to death

    Police arrest UNIPORT student for allegedly stabbing girlfriend to death

    Police in Edo have arrested a 24-year-old student of the University of Port Harcourt for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend to death.

    Commissioner of Police in Edo, Mr Muhammed Dankwara told newsmen on Tuesday in Benin that the suspect’s landlord reported the case to the police.

    The landlord, he said, told the police that the student stabbed the lady several times in the neck and in the chest with a knife.

    “Police operatives immediately swung into action, arrested the suspect, recovered two knives, and rushed the victim to the hospital where her body was deposited in a morgue.

    “Items recovered from the suspect were two blood-stained knives, two iPhones, one Nokia phone, one laptop, and two ATM cards.

    “The case was transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Benin. The suspect will be arraigned for murder soon,’’ Dankwara said.

    Speaking with newsmen, the suspect said the deceased travelled from Asaba to spend some time with him in Benin when he found some fetish substances in her possession.

    He said this led to an argument that resulted in the girl stabbing him and he responded in equal measure.

    In another development, Dankwara announced the arrest of a 25-year-old who allegedly defrauded an 18 year-old of N5.2 million.

    The police commissioner said fake denominations of foreign currencies and charms used for hypnotising and manipulating victims were recovered from the suspect.

    He said the suspect already wrote a confessional statement to the police and would soon be arraigned.

    Dankwara also paraded a 31-year-old who allegedly released nude pictures of his ex-girlfriend to the public and another one for alleged rape.

    Another suspect paraded before newsmen was a member of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service who was arrested over suspected murder.

    Dankwara said the suspect reportedly shot his victim to death.

     

  • Police rescue 4 kidnapped UNIPORT students

    Police rescue 4 kidnapped UNIPORT students

    Four students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), abducted on Saturday, have been rescued by the Police Command in Rivers.

    Mr Sam Kpenu, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the students have been rescued in a statement in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

    According to him, the students, two Ph.D. and two undergraduate students, were kidnapped while they were on their way to Orashi River in the state.

    He gave the names of the four students as Gbaa Nenubari, Asumbo Elizabeth, Eze Chimezie, and Onosigho Augustine.

    “They were on their way to Orashi River for vegetation sampling for their final-year project and Post-Graduate research works when they were abducted,” he stated.

    Kpenu said that the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, received the victims and commended the institution’s Chief Security Officer and security agencies for their prompt intervention.

    “We are happy that the students are back unhurt and now reunited with their families and friends.

    “We sympathise with them for what they went through in the hands of their abductors,” Georgewill was quoted as saying.

  • How Nigeria can be peaceful – Goodluck Jonathan

    How Nigeria can be peaceful – Goodluck Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerian leaders to value the interest of every section of the country in order to build a united nation devoid of agitation, disunity and disenchantment.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Jonathan stated this while stressing that it is by this that Nigeria can achieve peace.

    Jonathan spoke when he led members of the 1981 set of the University of Port Harcourt alumni Association on Saturday, to the king of Opume kingdom in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, King Amalate Turner.

    Jonathan described the country as being blessed with both human and natural endowments which can only be enjoyed in a peaceful atmosphere.

    He urged leaders to focus more on building a united nation where no one society or tribe should be more valued than the other.

    “If leaders derail, then there is bound to be disunity and disenchantment from those who feel not being accorded their rightful respect and value,” he said.

    Jonathan, who is an alumnus and a member of the pioneer graduate class of 1981 of the University of Port Harcourt, said the reunion programme is part of activities of the alumni aimed at fostering bond among old classmates.

    He said it’s also a platform to deliberate on issues affecting their alma mater and give back to the school and society in general.

    On his part, King Turner said it is a good thing to reunite his classmates after 40 years of separation.

  • UNIPORT Deputy VC dies two days after appointment

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Professor of Psychology of Development, in the Department Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and just elected Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Andrew Efemini is dead. Professor Efemini died on Saturday, 31 July, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

    It was gathered that Efemini was recently appointed as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) at the 459th Senate Meeting (Extra-ordinary) on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.

    The appointment was awaiting approval by the Governing Council of the institution. According to the statement by the Public Relations Officer of the University of Port Harcourt, Sam Kpenu, “the Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, described Professor Efemini as a man of ideas, whose contributions had assisted the growth of the University.”

    The Vice Chancellor made the remark when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased. The cause of his death has not been revealed at the time of filling this report. However, the late professor recently underwent a successful surgery in India.

  • N371m fraud: Uniport student, Gift Kenneth, his mum, girlfriend jailed for defrauding American lady

    N371m fraud: Uniport student, Gift Kenneth, his mum, girlfriend jailed for defrauding American lady

    Nigerian man, Gift Kenneth, has been sentenced to jail alongside his mother and girlfriend for defrauding an American lady, Lucinda Ann Garnes Henrichson, of around $902,935 (about N371 million).

    He and the two others – his mother, Dora Animam, and girlfriend, Spice Chimzi Dandy Igwe – were sentenced by Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State, on Thursday, for internet fraud.

    A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wilson Uwujaren said Animam and Igwe were arraigned on one count each by the Benin Zonal office of the commission for offences bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretences.

    Kenneth was said to have disguised as one Raymond Carl Eric and in 2018 and 2019 lied to Henrichson of Texas, US, about an infrastructural investment project.

    This was followed by the transfer of the money through various channels – Shuaibu Abdullahi and Dora Animam’s bank accounts.

    His offences are said to be contrary to Section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition and Prevention, Etc ) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22 (2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.

    Animam was said to have received the money with her Diamond and Access bank accounts.

    According to the statement, she received $166,000 from Henrichson and N27 million from Abdullahi, thereby said to have committed an offence contrary to section 27(1)(b) and 22(2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention, Etc) Act ,2015 and punishable under section 22 (2)(b)(IV) of the same Act.

    They all pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them, the EFCC said.

    The prosecution counsel, Francis. A. Jirbo, therefore, prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.

    Justice Olubanjo convicted and sentenced both Gift Kenneth and his mother, Dora Animam to five years imprisonment or a fine of N3 million each while Spice Chimzi Dandy Igwe was sentenced to two years imprisonment or a fine of N100,000.

    A Mercedes Benz 300, Mercedes Benz CL250, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XX Max, Apple MacBook Pro, two Apple Mac books were said to have been recovered from Kenneth, along with a twin four-bedroomed uncompleted duplex in Asaba.

    A sum of N4 million wae also recovered and the victim, Henrichson was refunded the sum of $4,255, recovered from Kenneth’s contractor, through the US Embassy.

  • UNIPORT directs compulsory use of face mask

    UNIPORT directs compulsory use of face mask

    The management of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) on Monday made compulsory the use of face mask in its campuses over concerns of third wave of COVID-19 in the country.

    The Federal Government on Sunday put six states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on red alert following the emergence and possible rising cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 infection.

    The affected states, which are spread across four of the country’s six geopolitical zones of South-west, South-south, North-West and North-central are Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the nation’s capital, FCT.

    A statement issued in Port Harcourt by the chairman of UNIPORT’s Steering Committee on COVID-19, Prof. Siminialayi Iyeopu, quoted the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgwill, as issuing the directive.

    According to Georgewill, the university is worried about the rising number of new cases and hospitalisation from the pandemic in the country.

    “So, the mandatory use of face masks shall commence effective Monday, July 19, in UNIPORT.

    “Every member of the university community must wear a face mask and observe all COVID-19 protocols for all indoor activities, including examinations and lectures, as well as meetings.

    “All staff, students and visitors to UNIPORT are required to wash their hands regularly or use hand sanitisers while adhering strictly to social distancing regulations,” Georgwill stated.

    The vice chancellor said that the measures were aimed at curbing the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of Coronavirus into the university campuses.

    The country recorded its index case of Coronavirus in February 2020 with thousands of confirmed cases and some deaths thereafter.

  • Fraud: UNIPORT renounces 4 students arrested by EFCC

    Fraud: UNIPORT renounces 4 students arrested by EFCC

    The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has renounced four students arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged involvement in cyber fraud.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement released on Friday by Sam Kpenu, the university’s Public Relations Officer.

    According to the statement, the university did not find the names of the four students arrested by the EFCC on Thursday in its record book.

    “The University of Port Harcourt has been drawn to a media report on the arrest of four persons by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission erroneously reported to be students at the University of Port Harcourt.

    “The said persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in cybercrime. The authorities of the university wish to state categorically that the persons arrested are not students at the University of Port Harcourt; that university has gone through its record and no such names are found in the record book of the University of Port Harcourt.

    “The University of Port Harcourt is not a breeding ground for criminals but a towering citadel of learning that turns out polished products who are making waves all around the globe,” the statement read.

    EFCC said the quartet, who allegedly defrauded 15 victims of $111,500 are Prince Hyacinth, Rex Emadifie Oghene, Odili Ifeayi and Uduak Samuel Williams.

    They were picked up on Thursday, August 20, 2020 from their hideout at Chibiak Avenue, Elenpranwo, Ada George, Port Harcourt.

    Upon their arrest, the following items were recovered: one Tecno Spark 4 belonging to Prince Hyacinth; one iPhone 11 Pro Max, two Infinix Hot and one apple Laptop belonging to Odili Ifeayi; one iPhone 7 and two iPhone 11 belonging to Rex Emadifie Oghene and one iPhone 8+, one Acer Laptop and one HP Laptop belonging Uduak Samuel Williams.

    Preliminary investigation by the EFCC established that the suspects are majorly involved in a romance scam and also act as pickers for organized ring of fraudsters.

    While Prince Hyacinth parades himself as a Spain-based marine engineer to bait his victims, Rex Emadifie Oghene poses as a rig engineer based in the United State.

    The two other suspects, Odili Ifeayi and Uduak Samuel Williams present themselves as rig/marine engineers to defraud their victims.

    The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, according to the EFCC.

  • Photo: Kidnappers abduct, kill three final year UNIPORT students after receiving ransom

    Photo: Kidnappers abduct, kill three final year UNIPORT students after receiving ransom

    Three 400 level students of the Univeristy of Port Harcourt kidnapped on April 7 have been discovered dead in Eleme area of Rivers State.

    The victims identified as Joy Adoki Nelson Nwafor and Fortune Obemba were declared missing by the police on April 19 after Adoki’s brother, Umor, filed a compliant at Eleme Police Division.

    According to The Nation, days after they disappeared, their kidnappers contacted their families and demanded ransom.

    Despite payment of ransom, it was gathered that the kidnappers failed to release the students as promised, leaving their families confused.

    According to the report, with the complaint made by Adoki’s brother, detectives in Rivers State arrested one Bright alias Nelly, who led investigators to two principal suspects in the kidnap identified as Friday Akpan and Emmanuel both resident in Eteo, Eleme.

    It was learnt that Akpan confessed to the police the three suspects were killed and buried in shallow graves at Eleme.

    The suspects led investigators to the scene of the murder around 6 am on Friday where the three decomposing bodies of the victims were recovered.

    The suspects, police sources said, also confessed to various kidnappings.

    However, the Rivers State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement concerning the development as at the time of filing this report.

  • UNIPORT gets 37 new professors

    UNIPORT gets 37 new professors

    The University of Port Harcourt has promoted 37 senior academics to the rank of professor.

     

    Dr Williams Wodi, Deputy Registrar, Information, UNIPORT, who disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said they passed through stringent criteria set up by the Senate of the university.

     

    “The promotion of academics to the professoriate were approved at the 171st meeting of the Governing Council of the University on Dec. 10, 2020.

     

    “Breakdown of the promotion shows that seven of the new professors are from the Faculty of Humanities; Faculty of Social Science got one and Faculty of Science, four.

     

    “Faculty of Education, 2; Faculty of Engineering, one; Faculty of Agriculture, seven; Faculty of Clinical Sciences, 12, and Faculty of Dentistry got three new professors,” Wodi said.

     

    He quoted the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ndowa Lale to have congratulated the new professors and urged them to be prepared for the new tasks ahead.

     

    “We expect you (professors) to be in the forefront of teaching, research and public service, as well as mentor younger academics and students,” he said.