The United Nations Institute for Training and Research has selected the Rivers State University as a centre for a three-year youth and women capacity training in various areas of human endeavour.
This is as the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu, described the establishment of the UNITAR centre at the university as a watershed moment in the intellectual landscape of the state.
Prof Odu made this assertion while speaking during a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between UNITAR and the university and the UN Flag Raising Ceremony, commemorating the launch of UN CIFAL at the institution in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
The deputy governor said, “As we are raising the flag in the state university, we are not merely participating in a ceremony, but witnessing the crystallization of a vision that bridges local expertise with global excellence.
“The establishment of CIFAL Nigeria as the 31st training centre in the CIFAL Network represents more than an institutional achievement. It gladdens my heart to know that of the 34 centres in the world, we are 31 and for us to be chosen for CIFAL Nigeria, is something of great pride and success for the Rivers State University and our dear state.”
She commended the visionary leadership of Governor Siminalaye Fubara, whose birthday coincided with the event, saying, “What a great day to remember. A day a great man was born and a day a great event was initiated.”
Prof Odu emphasized that the governor’s unwavering support for education and development initiatives has created a fertile ground from which this partnership has sprouted.
She further said the establishment of CIFAL Nigeria as the 31st international training centre in the CIFAL Global Network represents more than an institutional achievement.
The deputy governor added, “This centre will serve as a crucible where theory meets practice, where local challenges find global solutions,” adding that youths will be equipped with the tools to navigate and increase their capacity to work and achieve their dreams.
On the expectations of the state government, she said, “And you can imagine when the Vice Chancellor was whispering to me all the things that we need to meet to be able to truly be the CIFAL Centre in Nigeria. And I said to him ‘You know that the government of Sir Siminalayi Fubara is prepared and equal to the task.’
“Of course, the VC concurs because he knows that Governor Fubara is a man of action. He says what he does, he does what he says.”
In her remarks, the Associate Head of the CIFAL Global Network at UNITAR, Dr Ebru Canan-Sokullu, said the agency is privileged to count CIFAL Nigeria as its newest member amongst its international training centres in the CIFAL Global Network, which spans Asia, Oceania, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Dr Canan-Sokullu stated that the Port Harcourt hub will serve as a centre for knowledge sharing, technology and innovation.
On the choice of the university for the centre in Nigeria, she said RSU is one of the oldest universities in Nigeria with various faculties.
She added, “So a lot of different research centres that have expertise and excellence in their fields. So this is one of the strengths of our decision to launch this CIFAL Nigeria here. And of course, the local governments support us.”
She listed the areas of focus as youth and women empowerment and developing the capacity of the younger generation to stay in their country and help find solutions to local problems.
“And what is very important is that the university also allows this.”
Earlier, RSU VC, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, said the state-owned university has been selected as a training centre for CIFAL, which means that the institution will be recognized and placed on the United Nations Platform as a centre for the training of persons in different areas of human endeavours.
He stated, “At this point in time we are going to sign a MoU to see how we can take this relationship further. When you have an organization like the UNITAR with its procedures and processes that must be complied with, processes that are international in nature, whatever we are doing here today is the kind of thing they used to do whenever they have to sign MoU with any state or any other organization.
“By the grace of God, Rivers State University has been selected as a training centre for CIFAL. That means the whole of this centre, this university will be recognized. It will be on the United Nations Platform that Rivers State University has been selected as a centre for the training of persons in various areas of human endeavour.”
Highlights of the occasion were the signing of a memorandum of understanding as well as the hoisting of the United Nations flag in front of the Senate Building of the university.
