Success Nwanedo
The University of Port Harcourt community on Friday paid tributes to the late Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) elect, Professor Andrew Efemini, who died on the 31st of July, 2021 at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.
The ceremony started off with a procession by students dressed in all-black outfits from the Students’ Affairs Department to the residence of the deceased at the Lecturers’ quarters, Abuja campus.
The procession continued to the Senate building, where they were received by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Owunari Georgewill, and members of the senate.
The procession ended at the convocation Arena, where a service of tributes set off with the school anthem and prayer, by the Head of Department of Philosophy, Rev. Fr. Peter Alawa, who prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased.
Expressing his grief, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Owunari Georgewill said: “He was my company, a lieutenant, friend, and brother,” whom he said had agreed with him, to take the institution to another level.
He further described late Efemini as a steadfast fellow, “who may have died but will never be intimidated”.
In his tribute, the Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Professor Owete cheered the deceased as a father, friend, and colleague, who always defended the students’ voice.
Prof. Owete expressed that the University community had lost a pacesetter, who took with him an idea of what the university should look like while stressing that the community would never forget July 31st.
Describing the late Efemini, the Head of the Department of Philosophy, Rev. Fr. Peter Alawa said the deceased was a multi-dimensional man, who would never be forgotten.
The Students’ Union President, Ubabuike Gift said that the student community is pained by the death of the professor but must stand hopeful, with the belief that they will meet him again on the last day.
“Prof was a fearless man; he was a beacon of hope to the Nigerian student at home and in diaspora”, he added.
Speaking to TPCN, a student of the deceased, said: “He was my lecturer from year one to year three and was supposed to be my lecturer in my final year, but God knows best. He was a fighter, a unionist and activist, who didn’t allow anything to weigh him down even with his state of health; he was the perfect man to be the DVC, this is a very great loss to us”.
Present at the ceremony was the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Chima Wokocha; Prof. Francis Minima of the department of philosophy; members of the senate, Students’ union officials, students, and friends of the deceased.
