June 5 (THEWILL) — The Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has approved the appointment of Professor Princewill Chike, a former Rivers State Commissioner for Health, as the institution’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Port Harcourt by the university’s Public Relations Officer and spokesperson, Dr Sam Kpenu.
According to Kpenu, the appointment was approved by the university’s 17th Governing Council after the successful conclusion of a selection process conducted in accordance with relevant legal provisions governing the appointment of vice-chancellors in Nigerian universities.
He explained that the process strictly complied with the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act as well as the University of Port Harcourt Act, which outline the procedures for appointing principal officers of federal universities.
“The process involved the constitution of a Search Team and a Joint Council-Senate Selection Board, which carried out the exercise in accordance with extant laws and regulations”, Kpenu stated.
He further explained that the committees undertook the exercise in line with established procedures designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and merit in the appointment of university leadership.
Reacting to the appointment, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, congratulated Professor Chike and expressed confidence in his capacity to provide strategic and transformative leadership for the institution.
Ohuabunwa said the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor possesses the experience and leadership qualities required to consolidate on the university’s achievements and steer it toward greater academic excellence.
“Prof. Chike possesses the capacity to advance the university’s vision and sustain its tradition of excellence”, he said.
The appointment comes at a critical period in the university’s development trajectory, as stakeholders continue to advocate improved research output, infrastructure expansion, innovation, and enhanced academic competitiveness among higher institutions in Nigeria.
Professor Chike is widely known in Rivers State’s public and academic circles, having previously served as Commissioner for Health under the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike.
Professor Chike is expected to officially assume office on July 13, following the expiration of the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, on the same date.
Founded in 1975, the University of Port Harcourt remains one of Nigeria’s leading federal universities and has built a reputation for academic excellence, research development, and the production of skilled professionals across diverse fields.
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