The University of Port Harcourt (UniPort) recently hosted education experts from the European Union (EU) on January 13 and 14, 2026, as part of a strategic initiative to strengthen international research collaboration, promote innovation-driven scholarship, and enhance institutional research capacity.
The visiting delegation from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)—Professor Patricio Langa (Mozambique) and Mrs Huba Boshoff (South Africa)—engaged extensively with the University’s leadership and research community. On Tuesday, 13 January 2026, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Rosemary Ogu. The engagement focused on advancing research development, strengthening international partnerships, and identifying opportunities for sustained collaboration.
Central to the success of the visit was the active involvement and coordination of the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Development), under the leadership of Professor Angela Ine Frank-Briggs. The Office played a pivotal role in facilitating structured interactions with UniPort researchers participating in EU-funded projects, ensuring alignment with global best practices in research governance, innovation, and sustainability. These engagements provided a robust platform for knowledge exchange, critical review of ongoing initiatives, and discussions on scaling research outcomes for long-term societal impact.
The visit further highlighted UniPort’s growing reputation as a reliable partner in addressing complex global and regional challenges through interdisciplinary and solution-oriented research. This progress reflects the strategic direction and research-enabling framework championed by the Office of the DVC (R&D).
The University expressed deep appreciation to the project team leads—Professors Daprim Ogaji, Ibisime Etela, and Ndukuba Egesi—alongside members of the Create Green Africa, ANCRES, and EXCEL-PHARM research teams, whose work continues to exemplify research excellence. Their efforts, guided and supported by the Office of the DVC (Research & Development), underscore UniPort’s commitment to impactful, innovative, and globally relevant research.
Special commendation was also extended to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, whose visionary leadership has consistently fostered an enabling environment for teaching, research, and international engagement. His commitment to academic excellence and institutional growth has been instrumental in positioning UniPort as a trusted partner within the global academic and research ecosystem.
Overall, the EU delegation’s visit reaffirmed UniPort’s dedication to strategic partnerships, research innovation, and knowledge advancement, while reinforcing the University’s standing as an emerging leader in global research collaboration.
