The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) is set for a new chapter in its history following the appointment of Prof. Princewill Chike as the institution’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor.
The appointment, approved by the university’s Governing Council, marks the culmination of a rigorous selection process and positions Chike to take over the reins of leadership on July 13, 2026, when the tenure of the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, comes to an end.
Announcing the development on Friday in Port Harcourt, the university’s spokesperson, Dr. Sam Kpenu, said the appointment was ratified by the institution’s 17th Governing Council after the successful completion of a transparent and legally compliant selection exercise.
According to Kpenu, the process adhered strictly to the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the University of Port Harcourt Act. He explained that a Search Team and a Joint Council-Senate Selection Board were constituted to oversee the exercise in line with established regulations governing the appointment of vice-chancellors in Nigerian 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,” he stated.
The appointment has been welcomed by the university’s leadership, with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, expressing confidence in Chike’s capacity to steer the institution towards greater heights.
Congratulating the incoming Vice-Chancellor, Ohuabunwa described him as a seasoned administrator and academic with the vision and competence required to sustain the university’s tradition of excellence.
“Prof. Chike possesses the capacity to advance the university’s vision and sustain its tradition of excellence,” the Pro-Chancellor said.
Chike brings to the position a wealth of experience in academia and public service. Beyond his contributions within the university system, he previously served as Rivers State Commissioner for Health during the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike, a role in which he played a key part in shaping health policies and programmes in the state.
His appointment comes at a critical period for the University of Port Harcourt as it seeks to consolidate its standing among Nigeria’s leading institutions of higher learning while expanding its footprint in research, innovation and community engagement.
With expectations high among stakeholders, the incoming Vice-Chancellor faces the task of building on the achievements of his predecessor while charting a fresh course for the institution’s continued growth and development.
