By Ann Godwin & Oluyemi Ogunseyin
Some old students of the University of Port-Harcourt (UNIPORT) have called for realistic policies that will ensure proper maintenance of facilities in Nigerian universities for optimum benefit. While decrying infrastructural decay in the institution, occasioned by years of neglect, the 1986 set noted that good maintenance culture can boost research, improve learning, and also enhance the nation’s economy. The Vice President of the group, Dr Patterson Ogon, stated this at their reunion, where they donated a 10 KVA generator to the university library.
Stressing the need to protect and maintain facilities on campuses to make it sustainable and conducive for learning, he said: “The Nigerian university environment is in a sorry state and there is need for provision and maintenance. It makes no economic sense to provide and not maintain.” He noted that adequate maintenance of facilities is crucial for sustainability and value addition. Ogon called for the intervention of other alumni associations to help in addressing the critical needs in their schools, noting that government alone cannot completely take care of the challenges for enhanced quality learning and research works in the country.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, urged the old students to always give back by attracting development to their alma mater. Georgewill, who commended the union for donating a solar panel to the institution, said the school is building responsible citizens who would give back to the society. He said: “The University is always happy when old students remember the institution. The Solar panel that was set, I have popularized it and is all over the world what set did. That is the essence of the alumni, to give back.”
Chairman, Planning Committee, Dr Paterson Ogum, said part of the aim of the visit was to encourage the students. He said: “In conceiving this programme, we thought it was not just sufficient to provide a solar light, we left this university 33 years ago and we needed an opportunity to talk to the students who are here. Times have changed between when we were here and now. Some of us are established in our different fields and sharing those experiences will be useful for the students, even when they leave the University,” Ogum stated.
In a similar development, a Nigerian student has broken a 10 year-old record for longest painting marathon.
Nigerian art student Chancellor Ahaghotu breaks a decade-old record for the longest painting marathon
Guinness World Records (GWR) on has announced that a Nigerian art student identified as Chancellor Ahaghotu has broken a decade-old record for the longest painting marathon. GWR in a statement on its website said Ahaghotu broke the record which was set ten years ago after painting for 100 consecutive hours. It added that Chancellor, a sophomore at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, far surpassed the previous record of 60 hours, set by Roland Palmaerts (Belgium/Canada) in 2013. “I came to the United States to pursue my dreams and build up my career as a recognized artist,” Chancellor told GWR before embarking on his record attempt. “Breaking the record will boost my recognition as an artist both in my school and the world at large.”
According to GWR, for this record, the challenger can either work on one large painting or create multiple ones, but the painting(s) must be of a recognizable image; abstract painting is not permissible.
Guinness World Records explained that for over four days, Chancellor worked tirelessly to produce 106 pieces depicting all manner of subjects, including celebrities, food items, plants, animals, and much more. And at the 60th hour, when he surpassed the previous record, the Nigerian student painted a broken record player. “One thing I love about the paintings I created is that they were representing my different moods and how I was feeling when I created them,” Chancellor explained.
GWR said as with all ‘longest marathon’ records, the challenger is permitted a five-minute rest break for every continuous hour of activity, these rest breaks can be accumulated if not taken. According to GWR, they were the only times Chancellor could use the bathroom, eat, or sleep. Chancellor said he battled fatigue around the 88-hour mark, but he was committed to reaching his target of 100 hours. As a result, he didn’t think about calling an end to the record attempt.
