The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) branch, has taken a proactive step to mitigate the impact of increased tuition fees in government-owned universities nationwide. The initiative involves awarding scholarships to 13 deserving students from the university.
The scholarships, divided into two categories—the National ASUU Awards and the State Branch Approved Awards—aim to ease the financial burden on students and their families while facilitating a smoother academic journey. UNIPORT ASUU chairman, Chima Uzoma, emphasized the ongoing challenges in government funding for tertiary education, highlighting the persisting issues since the union’s resolution of an eight-month industrial strike last year.
Chairman Chima Uzoma explained the meticulous selection process for beneficiaries, with a stringent criterion, including a 3.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) requirement. At the award ceremony, beneficiaries were presented with cheques ranging from N100,000 to N200,000, demonstrating the commitment to supporting students financially
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Notably, two students secured the prestigious national scholarship award of N200,000, while the remaining 11 students received N100,000 each. The Vice-Chancellor of UNIPORT, Professor Owunari Georgewill, expressed gratitude for ASUU’s timely intervention, acknowledging its significant role in alleviating the challenges posed by the spike in school fees.
Professor Georgewill emphasized the gravity of the fee hike, sharing that some students were allowed to continue with exams despite incomplete fee payments. He commended ASUU for lifting real burdens off families, stressing the positive impact on students facing financial constraints.
Addressing the audience, a representative of the beneficiaries, Adindu Odinakachi, a third-year student in the Department of Chemical Engineering with an impressive CGPA of 4.26, expressed gratitude. Odinakachi assured that they would diligently utilize the funds, acknowledging the motivation provided by ASUU to concentrate on their academic pursuits.
