The Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt has approved the appointment of Professor Princewill Chike as the 10th substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution.
Professor Chike, a former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State during the administration of former governor Nyesom Wike, will take over from the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Owunari Georgewill, whose tenure is scheduled to end on July 13, 2026.
The appointment was announced in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Thursday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Sam Kpenu.
According to the statement titled ‘University of Port Harcourt Appoints Professor Princewill R. Chike as 10th Vice-Chancellor’, the decision followed a selection process conducted by the institution’s governing council.
The announcement marks a significant transition in the leadership of one of Nigeria’s leading federal universities, coming at a time the institution is preparing to conclude the tenure of its current administration and usher in a new phase of academic and administrative direction.
Professor Chike is widely known in academic and public service circles, having combined his medical and educational career with government service in Rivers State. During his time as Commissioner for Health, he was actively involved in the implementation of healthcare policies and public health reforms under the Wike administration.
His emergence as Vice Chancellor is expected to attract considerable attention within the university community and beyond, especially given his experience in both academia and governance.
Observers say the appointment signals the institution’s desire to sustain administrative stability while also strengthening its academic profile and public engagement.
The outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Georgewill, who became the 9th substantive Vice Chancellor of the university, is expected to formally conclude his tenure after presiding over his final convocation ceremonies scheduled for Friday, June 5, and Saturday, June 6, 2026.
The convocation ceremonies are expected to attract graduating students, alumni, government officials, academics and dignitaries from different parts of the country.
Under Georgewill’s leadership, the university recorded developments in academic programmes, infrastructure expansion, research activities and institutional partnerships, although the administration also faced challenges common to many Nigerian public universities, including funding pressures and industrial disputes within the education sector.
Members of the university community have begun reacting to the appointment, with many expressing optimism that the incoming Vice Chancellor would build on the achievements of the outgoing administration while introducing fresh reforms to improve academic standards, staff welfare and students’ learning conditions.
Some stakeholders also noted that Chike’s background in public administration and health management could bring a broader leadership perspective to the institution, especially in areas involving institutional planning, partnerships and policy implementation.
Founded in 1975, the University of Port Harcourt remains one of Nigeria’s foremost higher institutions, renowned for its programmes in medicine, engineering, social sciences, law and humanities.
The institution has over the years produced thousands of graduates who have distinguished themselves in various professions both within and outside Nigeria.
As preparations begin for the official handover of leadership, attention is expected to focus on the vision and priorities Professor Chike will unveil for the university upon assumption of office later in July.
Many staff members and students are hopeful that the incoming administration will consolidate ongoing reforms, improve research funding, strengthen innovation and deepen the university’s reputation as a centre of academic excellence in Nigeria and Africa.
