The University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State has launched the construction of a central multi-purpose research laboratory, an initiative funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to transform research infrastructure in Nigeria’s South-South geopolitical zone.
The development was revealed in a video obtained by StarReporters’ correspondents, which captured the formal handover of the project site to consultants and contractors. Speaking during the event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill emphasised the strategic national significance of the project.
“Sometime last year, they decided it was time to invest in research infrastructure—state-of-the-art research infrastructure,” he said.
“That came to be because most people who do research in Nigeria, at the end of the day, want to cross overseas. You’ve got to do one thing or the other in laboratories there.”
He explained that the shift from funding-only models to the direct construction of advanced research facilities was a deliberate strategy by TETFund.
“TETFund decided that if we build state-of-the-art research facilities here, it means this tendency of ‘I want to complete my work abroad’ will be reduced,” he said.
“Because you will have the facility that you need to do those research here.”
A committee led by Professor Olufemi was tasked with assessing the feasibility of the initiative and recommending locations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The University of Port Harcourt was selected to host the facility for the South-South region.
Professor Georgewill made it clear that the laboratory, though situated in Port Harcourt, is a federal facility intended to serve the broader academic community across the region.
“This intervention is not strictly for the University of Port Harcourt,” he said.
“It is an intervention for the universities of the South-South, but the project is located at the University of Port Harcourt.”
He urged future users of the facility to understand its broader purpose.
“When our colleagues from other universities come to use these facilities, they should understand it is not UniPort’s property. It is a federal government facility located here for the region.”
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted the larger economic implications of the development.
“What drives economy today is research and development on a sustainable basis, commercialisation, innovations,” he noted.
“We believe that if they do this in the way we see on the diagram, we will be able to drive economic growth from researches and outcomes.”
The event was attended by university principal officers, the Chief Security Officer, the Director of Internal Audit, and Ambassador Professor Onyige, among others.