…Describe him as a proud and wonderful son of Rivers State
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described Prof. Sylvanus John Sodienye Cookey as a selfless Nigerian, selfless Niger Deltan and a proud and wonderful son of Rivers State.
Governor Fubara stated this during the 90th Birthday Celebration of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at the Auditorium, CBN Centre of Excellence University of Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 9th April 2024.
Represented by his Deputy Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said “Prof. Cookey is one man that is unique who loves to see his people grow and helps them to achieve their goals, we should learn from his lifestyle so that one-day history will be kind to us by the things we do and the hand we stretch forward to help others, just as history is being kind to our father”.
According to the Governor, the celebrant is somebody who has impacted a lot beyond the University of Port Harcourt, noting that it is not very easy to be one of the first foundation Vice Chancellors of Uniport because they had a lot of stress setting up a new University from a little technical school.
While congratulating the celebrant, the State Chief Executive said the University was flourishing today, which was not the case decades ago when they started and expressed his delight that Prof. Cookey is alive to see that the mustard he planted has grown into a big oak tree.
In his virtual Goodwill message, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said Prof. Sylvanus Cookey was a great teacher who positively impacted the lives of many people across the country, noting that as a public servant and scholar he held different positions of trust where he served faithfully with great patriotism and zeal which includes serving as the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt from 1982 to 1989.
In remarks, the Vice Chancellor University of Port Harcourt Prof. Owunari Georgewill, who spoke through the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Clifford Ofurum, said the institution has decided to leave a lasting legacy in honour of Prof. Cookey, by providing a centre to immortalize him in the University.
Earlier, Prof Joseph Ajienka the 7th Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Organizing Committee disclosed that they were gathered to celebrate a transformational leader who laid the foundation for transforming the University of Port Harcourt into an entrepreneurial University and committed to the University advancement.
The Guest Lecturer, Amb. (Dr) Godknows Igali, the 12th Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, and 2nd Pro-Chancellor Bayelsa Medical University, presented a Lecture Titled “The Historical Public Service and the Luminous Foot Marks of Professor Sylvanus John Sodienye Cookey.
Owupele Benebo
Head of Press,
Deputy Governor’s Office, Port Harcourt.
Tuesday April 9th, 2024
