Location: Bonn, Germany
The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has once again demonstrated its commitment to internationalization and academic excellence through a transformative visit to the University of Bonn and Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences (H-BRS), Germany.
Led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, the high-powered UNIPORT delegation engaged in a series of strategic meetings, presentations, and facility tours designed to deepen institutional collaboration between Nigeria and Germany.
A Warm Welcome and Shared Vision
The visit began with a symbolic gesture of hospitality as the UNIPORT delegation was warmly received in Bonn. The atmosphere was charged with mutual respect and a shared ambition to bridge academic worlds for the benefit of students, researchers, and both countries.
The digital welcome board outside the university bore the inscription: ‘Welcome to H-BRS — University of Port Harcourt.’ This welcome set the tone for the collaborative spirit that followed throughout the engagement.
Presenting the UNIPORT Vision
One of the highlights of the visit was a presentation titled ‘Bridging Academic Worlds: Introducing the University of Port Harcourt Delegation’ by Professor Dr. Chioma Daisy Onyige, Senior Fellow at the Bonn Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS) and Professor of Criminology at UNIPORT.
Her address introduced the rich academic heritage and future-oriented goals of UNIPORT, spotlighting areas such as digital transformation, social science research, innovation, and student-focused development.
Exchange of Ideas and Learning Models
A key session featured a deep dive into the academic approach at H-BRS. Attendees explored how German universities successfully integrate:
– Practice-oriented, project-based learning
– International double-degree programmes
– Compulsory internships
– Application-driven curricula
This opened doors for comparative discussions on curriculum design, employability, and ways both institutions could mutually benefit through staff and student exchange programs.
Innovation in Action: Robotics Lab Tour
The UNIPORT delegation was given a guided tour of the university’s robotics and innovation hubs. Demonstrations by student engineers and developers brought real-world applications to life—from robotic assistants to mechanical simulations.
This hands-on engagement further strengthened the delegation’s desire to replicate such innovation-driven environments at UNIPORT.
Dialogue, Partnership, and Planning
The visit also featured high-level roundtable discussions where faculty members and administrators from both universities outlined strategic areas for future cooperation. Emphasis was placed on:
– Establishing a joint research centre at UNIPORT
– Launching faculty/student exchange programmes
– Collaborating on multidisciplinary research
Each interaction reaffirmed the shared mission to elevate global academic standards through mutual support, respect, and innovation.
A Delegation of Excellence
The UNIPORT team was made up of distinguished professors, academic leaders, and administrative experts representing various faculties and departments.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Owunari Georgewill, speaking after the visit, remarked:
“This is a bridge — not just between universities, but between continents. A bridge for research, innovation, and above all, opportunity for our youth.”
Looking Ahead
With the success of this visit, both universities have set the foundation for a long-term partnership grounded in research excellence, curriculum enrichment, and student empowerment.
As plans for implementation take root, UNIPORT reaffirms its position as a forward-looking African university that values global collaboration and innovative learning.
