From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, will deliver the 35th convocation lecture of the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State on July 25, 2025.
Governor Diri gave his consent during the courtesy visit of the institution’s management led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, to Government House, Yenagoa, on Friday.
Prof. Georgewill said the institution was proud to have the governor as an alumnus.
He stated that Bayelsa under Diri was experiencing rapid transformation as virtually all sectors of the state’s economy had been positively affected by his administration.
The VC also said the institution was pleased to be associated with the governor and that it was a huge privilege having him as a product of the school.
He appealed to the governor to consider a legacy project as a way of giving back to the institution, which he noted will also help it cope with the rising number of students and staff.
While accepting the offer, Governor Douye Diri said as an alumnus, he was bound to be part of the institution’s activities.
He commended the UNIPORT management for maintaining excellence in the institution, stressing that education was crucial to development of society.
Diri noted that leaders who fail to invest in education would have to deal with the consequences of crime and criminality.
He restated his administration’s commitment to developing the sector as society would not progress without education.
The Bayelsa helmsman explained that the state had shifted focus from paper qualification to science, technical and vocational education, and that the government had already completed tuition-free technical colleges in six out of the eight local government areas, with the contract for the other two awarded.
His words: “If you ignore education, then you have to build more prisons because crime will soar. For us as a government, education is a priority.
“Those of us that had the opportunity must provide space for others. In Bayelsa, we are moving from paper qualification to science and technical education so our people can have skills to be employers of labour rather than being thrown into the labour market.
“We are building science and vocational colleges in every local government area as a policy of this government. School fees, feeding and accommodation are all free. Our educational curriculum needs to meet the needs of our society.
“Coming to your requests, I will be happy to deliver the convocation lecture. If I did it in other institutions, UNIPORT’s should not be different. I also approve your request for a legacy infrastructure in our institution.”
