UniPort Digital Infrastructure Fails Even After 50 Years

The University of Port Harcourt (UniPort) celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, proudly describing itself as one of Nigeria’s top institutions for research and innovation. Yet students face daily struggles as the UniPort digital infrastructure fails to deliver. From broken course registration portals to outdated result-checking systems, UniPort’s online presence shows how far the school is lagging behind.

Ask any UniPort student what their biggest frustration is, and chances are the answer won’t be tuition fees; it will be the school’s online systems. Registering for courses online? Often a nightmare. Checking results after exams? Sometimes impossible. Even basic website navigation leaves students stranded, with dead links and half-functioning sections that should be core to an academic institution.

This is not just a tech hiccup. It’s an institutional failure in an era where even small private colleges run smoother online systems than a federal university 

UniPort’s official website proudly lists achievements:

• 90% post-graduation success rate
• Ranked among Nigeria’s top 10 universities
• No. 1 in research
  

But step into the digital reality, and it’s a different story. While the university celebrates 50 years of “excellence,” its portals are either outdated or unusable. Students still queue physically for services that should have been digitised a decade ago. In 2025, that’s simply unacceptable.

This problem goes beyond inconvenience. Poor systems waste time, slow academic progress, and reduce trust in the institution. In an economy where efficiency is everything, students graduate without having experienced the kind of seamless digital learning environment that employers now expect.

Ironically, UniPort spends millions on website development and upgrades, yet students continue to face the same old frustrations. Where does that money really go?

Can UniPort Do Better?

Yes, they can, but only if digital transformation becomes a true priority, not a buzzword. That means:

• Fixing the portals: Ensure course registration, result checking, and transcript requests actually work.
• Transparency in tech spending: Show students how their “technology fees” are used.
• User-friendly design: Build portals and websites that match global standards, not outdated templates.
• Long-term investment: Shift from quick fixes to sustainable digital infrastructure.
  

Nigeria’s higher education system cannot afford to be backward in digital adoption. Students graduating from UniPort will compete with peers from around the world, many of whom have had AI-powered learning tools, seamless course platforms, and digital-first administrative systems.

If UniPort truly wants to live up to its tagline of “knowledge meets innovation,” it must start by fixing the basics. Fifty years is long enough to get it right.