–Commentary/News, December 7, 2022,
RIVERS-“Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 150:6
The above scripture is the last verse of the book of Psalms in the Bible. Though brief, but it properly captures and summarizes the entire book of Psalms that is made up of 150 chapters. The Psalms talk about God’s magnificence, splendour, glory, and almightiness. We also find in the Psalms great stories of how God protected His people, provided for them, and preserved them. In conclusion of all of these mighty works of God, we are given the divine injunction as those who are alive to praise the Lord. Count your blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise what the Lord has done.
What shall we say unto God for all He has done for us. The peace we enjoy, the Fellowship we enjoy together, the infrastructures we see springing up here and there, the awesome convocation we just had, the career structure we now have, the promotions and recognition of hard work, the awesome stakeholders participation and contributions to the growth of the University, the joy of having a very understanding student population, the grace of very cooperative staff, the faithfulness of God, we can go on and on and the list is endless.
We are gathered here today as a corporate entity to thank God for His goodness and blessings on the University of Port Harcourt, especially in the past year. Time and space will fail us to clearly mention in details all that God has done for each one of us and the entire University community. However, we would like to adopt the last sentence of the book of Psalm as message of our thanksgiving to God – “Praise ye the LORD.”
Since the beginning of this administration, we have witnessed God’s unprecedented blessings that have kept us in an awesome adoration of the Almighty God. The University of Port Harcourt has been at the receiving end of God’s favour that comes to us through generous donations and supports from individuals and corporate organizations. This has enabled us to take some giant strides, blaze the trail, dared the impossible, and have had rapid and rare accomplishments. For all of these, we say, “Praise ye the LORD.”
Worthy to be mentioned of all that God has done for the University is the establishment of two new faculties; which are the Faculty of Computing, and the Faculty of Media and Communication Studies. Aside this, the status of the University has continued to grow steadily among the comity of other universities in Nigeria and even abroad. This is evidenced by the recent ranking of the University of Port Harcourt as the fifth best university in Nigeria, being the highest ranking that we have ever been ranked. These are great feats that could only be achieved by the help of God. For all of these, we say, “Praise ye the LORD.”
Many of us in the past one year have embarked on several trips within and outside the country, yet, in all of these journeys, God has graciously protected us. Some of have been healthy all through the year, while those of us whose health may have broken down have enjoyed God’s healing mercy. For all of these, we say, “Praise ye the LORD.”
David in his days spluttered in the rhetorical question of a man overwhelmed by God’s goodness and mercy:
“Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?” 2 Samuel 7:18
I stand before God as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt today to humbly ask the Almighty God the same rhetorical question: “Who am We and the University of Port Harcourt, that You have blessed us this much?”
“Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God shall bless us.”
Psalm 67:5, 6 May I ask that we all stand as we sing the Hymn to God be the glory great things he has done.
Being the address during the convocation thanksgiving on Campus
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