Professor Ndowa Ekoate
Sunday Lale, is set  to succeed Professor Joseph Ajienka as Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, whose tenure will  expire on July 13, 2015.
This followed the decision of the Governing Council of the University in its 151st Extra-ordinary Meeting to appoint Professor Lale as the 8th Vice-Chancellor of the Institution.
Chairman of the Governing Council, Engineer Gesi Asamaowei, who signed the appointment letter dated May 26, 2015, said Professor Lale emerged as the new Vice-Chancellor following favourable consideration of a report by the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board that deliberated on the matter.
The emergence of Professor Lale, he said, followed an intensive interview process of candidates by the Senate Selection Panel set up by the Governing Council for that purpose.
The new Vice-Chancellor, who shall hold office for a single tenure of five years,was born 59 years ago in Ebubu, in present-day Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. He studied Crop Science in his First degree at the University of Maiduguri, between 1978 and 1981, obtaining the First Class (Honours).
He was awarded Doctor of Philosophy degree of the University of New Castle-Upon-Tyne in Agricultural Entomology in the United Kingdom in 1987.
Professor Lale served for over 6 years as pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture of the institution, during which period, he introduced several innovative ideas that placed the young faculty on a firm academic and administrative footing.
In addition to the numerous positions he has held in the administrative hierarchy of the UNIPORT, and at the national level, Professor Lale is a seasoned administrator with a track record for getting things done.
He is also a widely-published scholar with several peer-reviewed journals in Nigeria and overseas to his name.
Professor Lale joined the services of the University of Port Harcourt in 1982.