Behold in the picture above is Late Mr. Lewis Harcourt (Formerly Mr. Reginald Vernon Harcourt) , a former British Politician and Administrator. He was the Secretary (Minister) of States for Colonies from 1910 -1915.
He was the man, solemnly incharge of the colonial government activities at the time of the establishment of Port harcourt in 1912, following the discovery of coal in the municipal city of Enugu.
He was the man, whose name took over the Port , that British colonialist established at Igwe-ocha & Subsequently that of the town.
In 1912, there was much controversy about the name, that the newly constructed port should be given. In August 1913, the then Governor General of Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard wrote to Harcourt, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, that “in the absence of any convenient local name, I would respectfully ask your permission to call this Port Harcourt”. The Secretary of State replied, “It gives me pleasure to accede to your suggestion that my name should be associated with the new Port”.
This was how a port built in Igwe-ocha, with the proceeds of Enugu coal, will go ahead to be known as “Port Harcourt ” and consumed the old name, that the area was known with. The rest as the saying goes is now history<<Continue Reading>>>
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