After an eventful five years tenure, the activities leading to the disengagement of Professor Nlerum Sunday Okogbule as Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University have commenced.

The disengagement activities started with a valedictory thanksgiving service on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the Chapel of Redemption, in the university’s main campus, Port Harcourt, with massive turn-out of members of the Governing Council, principal officers of the University, Professors, appointed and elected school officials, students, guests and the immediate family of the outgoing Vice Chancellor.

Speaking at the service, Professor Okogbule attributed his successful term in office to the grace of God, which according to him was why he commenced his disengagement activities from church.

He thanked the University community in general and the Rivers State Government in particular for the collaboration and support accorded him while in service, assuring to always protect the interest of the Institution whether in office or not.

Okogbule, who is Professor of International and Comparative Law, was first appointed on March 4, 2020 by the erstwhile Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike for a single non-renewable tenure of five years which ends on March 5, 2025 after an administration many describe as tranquil, staff friendly and progressive.

Further insight suggests that the Governing Council under the leadership of Justice Mary Odili (rtd.) would hold a valedictory session in honour of the outgoing Vice Chancellor on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 by 10am to mark the end of his term as Vice Chancellor and in appreciation of his modest efforts in upholding the excellence and creativity mantra of the University in the last five years.

Meanwhile, the process leading to the emergence of a new Vice Chancellor has since commenced with many contenders already in the ring jostling for the University’s top job.

An impeccable source, who pleaded anonymity given the sensitivity of the information and her ineligibility to speak on the matter, revealed that the Governing Council of the Institution had already concluded the screening process of all applicants who indicated interest to be the Chief Executive of the University.

The source further revealed that the Governing Council in overseeing the screening exercise “strongly depended on the University Law No. 4, 2017 of RSU to thoroughly examine the application of all 15 Professors, leading to the emergence of Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi, Professor Adolphus Joseph Toby and Professor Nkalo Hudson Ukoima as top three candidates for the job.”

Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi is the current Director of the Information Communication and Technology Centre (ICTC), and had previously served as the Dean of Student Affairs (DSA).

He is a Professor of Management, and had served as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Head of Management Department, and Head of the Office and Information Management (OIM) Department in the University.

Zeb-Obipi, who was also a two term President of the Senior Staff Club of RSU, a member of the institution’s Governing Council, conference speaker, and an ex-student union leader, comes highly equipped for the Vice Chancellor role.

Also, Professor Adolphus Joseph Toby is the immediate-past Dean of Post Graduate School of the Rivers State University, a one time Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, and former Head of the Banking and Finance Department.

He is a Professor of Corporate Finance, a policy formulator and erudite statesman.

Professor Nkalo Hudson Ukoima who is a one-time Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture in the Rivers State University, currently serves as a member of the institution’s Governing Council.

Knowledgeable sources within the University hinted Kristina Reports that the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara is expected to appoint one of the three top candidates on Monday, March 3, 2025 to forestall any vacuum in leadership.

Expectations are, therefore, high around the University’s campuses and among stakeholder circles on who would be the next sheriff of the State’s Premier university thus giving room for proper handover protocols between the outgoing Professor Okogbule and the incoming Vice Chancellor.