A former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Professor Howells Idaerefagha Hart is dead.
Confirming the incident in response to a telephone inquiry from Kristina Reports, Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, Dr. Harcourt Whyte, said the University was still in shock over his sudden demise on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, adding that he was one of the University’s strong hands.
Hart, amongst many positions of trust he occupied, rose to serve his home, Rivers State as Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) of the Rivers State University from November 2007 till July 2015 under then Vice Chancellor, Professor Barineme Beke Fakae.
With a mandate to forestall the environmental deficiencies in Bonny Local Government Area, occasioned by natural and human causes, the globally celebrated Professor of Mechanical Engineering had just been inaugurated as the Chairman of the Bonny Environmental Consultants Committee (BECC), in December 2020, where he was seen in robust appearance before he fell ill and passed on.
According to the Vice Chairman of BECC, Professor Ibitoru Hart, who also confirmed the incident, the death of the BECC Chairman was a big loss to the people of Bonny Kingdom, in particular, and the global academic community.
In her sombre words: “It’s true, it’s true. Prof Howells Hart has passed on. He was sick for some time, after the inauguration. That’s when he fell ill.”
“It was a brief illness but quite serious. This is a very big loss. This is a big iroko.” Efforts to reach the immediate family of the deceased proved abortive as at the time of filling this report.
He was my Lecturer and project supervisor, he was of great standard, very ethical and with high moral values, a man of integrity, I thought someday I will be lectured once more by him during my PhD. Courses. Miss u Prof.