Joseph A. Ajienka, the vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, has said that the Institution is seriously transforming itself to an entrepreneurship committed to a culture of excellence on teaching, research, entrepreneurship, community service and building partnerships with industry, government and other relevant agencies.

He announced this while inaugurating the nine-member governing board of the Institute of National Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development (INRES), at the Senate Chambers, University of Port Harcourt. Members of the board include Lucky Awobasivwe, Joseph Ajienka (vice chancellor University of Port Harcourt), Noble Pepple and others.

The Vice Chancellor stated that members of the board were carefully selected based, in recognition of their distinguished career positions, training, work experience and passion for sustainable issues. "We are convinced that you possess the capacity to assist INRES in establishing partnerships and cooperation with industry, appropriate government agencies and international development organization," he said.

It will be recalled that INRES was established in 2011 with a three-year grant by the Mac Arthur Foundation. The mission of the Institute is to produce competent manpower in natural resources and environmental management, build capacity of government and industry workforce as well as applied research.

The organisation and management structure of INRES, include the governing board, which occupies the apex position, implementation committee and academic board Godknows Igail, a permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Power and the chairman of the governing board, expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor for the privilege given to them to serve in INRES board; he described it as "a call to service to the country, to this part of the country as well as the University"

He stated that University of Port Harcourt has always maintained the position as a trailblazer to set up an institution of this nature. According to him, "the Niger Delta region is particularly of great global interest, in terms of ecosystem and ecology, sustenance of biodiversity and sustenance of the very profile lives of both plants and animals in the area".

Igail, stated that the Niger Delta has been described as the worst environmental pollution abuse and worst impact of hydrocarbon footprint in the world today and in the years to come, saying, that for this reason, the institute would train people who will make very great impact and also have great relevance in the worst abused Niger Delta. Adding that the members of the board would use their collective contact, experience and gather together various partners in the world to work with them.