The University of Port Harcourt has awarded Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), an Honorary Doctorate in Science (DSc Honoris Causa). Lere Olayinka, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, revealed this in a statement, noting that UNIPORT’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, announced during the presentation of the conferment letter to Wike at his residence in Abuja on Wednesday.
Professor Georgewill stated that the official conferment and presentation of the certificate would take place on 26 July, as part of events marking the university’s 50th anniversary. He explained that the university’s Act empowers it to award honorary doctorate degrees to distinguished Nigerians who have made significant contributions to national development.
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According to the Vice-Chancellor, the university’s Senate approved the conferment in recognition of Wike’s commendable record in public service and his contributions to the development of both the institution and Rivers State.
“Today marks the beginning of the 50th-anniversary celebration of the University of Port Harcourt, and there is no better place to commence the ceremony than where we are today. You are also a distinguished alumnus of the university, and so the university is honouring you not only for your service but also for your service to the University of Port Harcourt.
“Your footprints are just there for everybody to see in the university. We are proud to be associated with you and the university is indeed very proud that you attended it; you have a DNA of that institution in you,’’ Georgewill said. However, Gloria China, the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, had earlier communicated the conferment of the honorary doctorate to the Minister in a letter dated 10 June.
“It is with profound please that I write to convey to you the decision of the Senate of the University of Port Harcourt at its Extra-Ordinary meeting held on Tuesday, 3rd June 2025 to confer on you, an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (DSc Honoris Causa) in recognition of your visionary leadership and outstanding contributions to governance in Rivers and Nigeria.
“The conferment will be made at the 35th Convocation Ceremony of the university, which is scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 26, 2025,” she said. While presenting the letter, the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Mao Ohuabunwa, thanked Wike for being a worthy ambassador of the institution.
Ohuabunwa said: “The university is very proud of you because, in every endeavour of your life, you have made us proud. When you were the Chairman and Security Head of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers, you defended the university.
“When you were the minister of education, you attracted great developments to the university. Today the Faculty of Law is in the university because Nyesom Wike was the minister of education.” He added that Wike not only brought the Faculty of Law to the university but also constructed the building.
In response, Wike expressed gratitude to the university for the honour, stating, “For me, it is the university that gave me everything.” The former Governor of Rivers State explained that, during his tenure as Minister of Education, he was puzzled as to why a conventional university lacked a Faculty of Law.
Wike said he felt disappointed by this and made it a personal mission to establish the Faculty, along with the Faculty of Social Sciences, to distinguish it from the Faculty of Humanities. He further stated that he also built one of the best convocation arenas for the university, as he believed it deserved nothing less.
“I am a proud alumnus of the university where I first studied political science before studying another law degree. If I am in a position to do more for my university, I will continue to do it. I am happy and I accepted the offer on behalf of my family, my wife, and my friends and promised to be there to celebrate the golden jubilee of the university. I will continue to partner and support the university,” Wike said.
