No fewer than 200 students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) have been awarded a four-year scholarship to enable them to accomplish their academic goals.
At the scholarship presentation, Owunari Georgewil, the vice-chancellor of the institution, charged the students to make the best use of the opportunity. Georgewil said: “On behalf of the Senate, management, academic and non-academic staff, parents, and entire students of UNIPORT, I would like to express our profound appreciation to Dr Nyong, our illustrious alumnus, whom we are very proud of, for this gesture of full four-year scholarship award to 200 students to empower them to accomplish their academic goals.”
Richard Nyong, chief executive officer, Lekki Gardens Limited, sponsor of the scholarships said this is his way of giving back to the society and remembering his humble beginnings. Nyong said the scholarship was in line with his philosophy that everyone has a role to play in building society and deserves a chance to have access to education to the university level. He explained that he announced the scholarship two years ago as part of activities marking his 40th birthday, but that the implementation was stalled by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and the long ASUU strike.
Nyong applauded the beneficiaries for working so hard to earn the scholarships and urged them to be law-abiding and continue to work harder as good ambassadors of the great citadel of learning. He disclosed that he was also a beneficiary of a scholarship grant by Mobil Nigeria Limited during his time as a UNIPORT student, adding that his academic pursuit would not have been easy without the scholarship.
“It is because I have walked the path that you are walking that I can confidently but with profound humility state that I know where the shoe pinches.
“I dare say that without the Mobil Scholarship, it would have been nearly impossible to complete my education at the university because that scholarship made a difference for me. Some people at the time had to drop out due to lack of financial support,” he said.
The vice-chancellor called on other well-meaning alumni to emulate Nyong in giving back to their alma mater.
