THIRTY-SEVEN years after the Federal Government acquired a vast land from the Rivers State communities, the indigenes are renewing their call on the government to redeem its pledge of paying compensation to the affected communities.The government had in 1975 struck a deal with eight communities on the acquisition move with the indigenes and therefore allocated the acquired land to the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.At an inaugural Founders' Day Lecture within the university campus, renowned writer, Dr. Elechi Amadi, had decried the failure of the Federal Government to pay compensation for the land it acquired from eight communities to build the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State 37 years ago.Amadi, who was permanent secretary in the Rivers State Ministry of Lands in 1977, noted that the refusal of the government to pay for the vast land it acquired over 35 years ago from Aluu, Choba and other communities has sometimes caused friction with the university.He stated this during the inaugural Founders 'Day Lecture, which was delivered by Emeritus Professor Ebiegberi Joe Alagoa, at the university.The author, who explained that he was part of the Federal Government's team that selected the present location of the university, tasked the Federal Government to expeditiously pay the long overdue compensation.'The university has not paid a dime for the acquisition of land up till date. The land for the university was acquired before the Land Use Decree was promulgated. So the issue of Land Use Decree does arise. We are still asking for our money. I happen to be one of the landlords' he said.The monarch of Choba community, Eze Roland Okocha, explained that when he ascended the throne in 1999, his first task was to ensure a conflict free relationship with the university.Okocha explained that until the government paid the affected communities the land it acquired from them, the dispute over land would persist. But irrespective of any dispute, the community would remain grateful for the existence of the university within their domain.Meanwhile, the Minister of States for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike said that approval had been given to the university to commence its Faculty of Law.Wike, who was the guest of honour at the occasion, revealed that the Federal Government had given approval to for the establishment of a Faculty of Law at the university.Wike, an alumnus of the university announced the endowment of chair for late Professor Claudus Ake for his immense contribution to the study of political economy in Africa and Dr. Obi Wali, for his contribution to the development of Nigerian and African literature.He explained that the sole priority of the present administration for tertiary education in Nigeria was for the country's graduates to compete favourably with peers across the world. To this end, he stressed that government would ensure that a conducive environment for academic activities to thrive.Professor Alagoa in his paper titled: Uniport in Review, traced the history of the founding of the university. He explained that the university irrespective of its teething problems had advanced mightily in terms of infrastructure.'The area of academic excellence was arguably our best foot forward. This was the area in which we received the greatest amount of outside recognition and appreciation. Even here we had to contend with staff, that tried to trade lecture notes,' he added.The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Joseph Ajienka, in appreciation of the founding fathers of the institution named the university library after the first Vice Chancellor, Professor Donald Ekong.
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