PROF UKPERE DONATES MORE BOOKS TO UNIDEL
By Ewere Okonta
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Ewereokonta20@gmail.com
www.ewereokontablog.org.ng
In yet another show of generosity and commitment to advancing education, Prof. Wilfred Ukpere, a distinguished Professor of Human Resources Management at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, has made a second donation of management textbooks to the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor.
The donation, which took place during a brief ceremony, was received on behalf of the university by Dr. Vera Okonoko, the University Librarian, who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Stella Chiemeke. In her remarks, Dr. Okonoko expressed the university’s deep appreciation for Prof. Ukpere’s continued support and acknowledged his remarkable contributions to the academic development of his home-based institution. She highlighted how the gesture would benefit students, staff, and management alike, noting that the textbooks would significantly enhance learning and research across the university.
Speaking on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Okonoko encouraged other well-meaning individuals in the diaspora to emulate Prof. Ukpere’s exemplary philanthropy, which she referred to as a symbol of the “think-home” philosophy. The Vice Chancellor assured the audience that the books would be put to effective use in supporting academic excellence at UNIDEL.
This latest donation was also facilitated by Mr. Ewere Okonta, a social media influencer and lecturer in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Delta, Agbor. Mr. Okonta has played a key role in linking the university with donors and international scholars to improve its resources and global network.
It is noteworthy that Prof. Ukpere made a significant donation of multimillion-naira worth of management textbooks to the same university on August 28, 2024. In an online interview, Prof. Ukpere expressed his ongoing commitment to supporting UNIDEL, stating that more contributions are in the pipeline to further enhance research, teaching, and learning at the institution.
The Vice Chancellor, through Dr. Okonoko, reiterated her profound gratitude to Prof. Ukpere, praising him for his unrelenting efforts in strengthening the university’s academic infrastructure. She also reaffirmed the university’s commitment to using the donated materials to bolster the educational experience of its students.
Prof. Ukpere’s continued support has positioned him as a role model for academic philanthropy, and his generosity is likely to inspire more acts of goodwill from the global Nigerian diaspora toward their local institutions.
*Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor*