News
Owunari Emerges 9th VC Of UNIPORT
After years of bickering and intrigues, the ninth vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt has finally emerged.
He is a medical doctor and Professor of Pharmacology in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt UNIPORT, Prof Georgewill Owunari.
Georgewill emerged winner in a keenly contested selection process, which saw no fewer than 12 eminently qualified candidates jostling for top job at the university.
He was former Deputy Provost of the College of Health Sciences.
He becomes second indigene of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state to be VC of UNIPORT after the graceful Emeritus, Prof Nimi Briggs.
Announcing the results and presenting the new VC to journalists in Port Harcourt, Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Andrew Uchendu said, “I want to assure all of you that we meticulously complied with the full provisions of the act on the selection of the vice chancellor of the university.
“After interviewing about 12 of them, we found three of them appointable.
“For the first time in my life, I have received a delegation of the President, who is the Visitor, to act on his behalf, and on behalf of the President, I want to announce to all of us that the council of the university has considered the report of the Selection Board, and approved the appointment of Prof Georgewill Owunari as the 9th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt”.
Owunari takes over from Prof Stephen Okududu, who was appointed last year on acting capacity.
Addressing newsmen after he was announced as the VC, Owunari promised to carry everyone along during his time in office.
Reacting to the appointment, the President of the Rivers State Chapter of University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association, Comrade Sam Woka, congratulates Prof. Owunari Georgewill on his emergence as the 9th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.
In a congratulatory message of the chapter, Woka described the appointment of Owunari “as one that gladdens the hearts and inspires hope, going by his wealth of experience, record of outstanding performance in administration and his deep and undying love and passion for the University of Port Harcourt.
“We believe that the task of repositioning the University to enviable heights and upholding the dreams of its founding fathers will be greatly consolidated under the current management”, he said.
He further “expressed appreciation to the Pro-Chancellor and members of the Governing Council for the deep wisdom shown in responding to the clarion call by appointing an Alumnus as the 9th Vice Chancellor of our dear Alma Mater”.
Woka said, “the Alumni is optimistic that as a thoroughbred Alumnus of Unique UNIPORT and one of its best, Prof. Georgewill will ensure the continued transformation of the university while representing the interest of staff, students, university community and its stakeholders”.
He, therefore, thanked all who supported and worked towards the actualisation of the call for an Alumnus VC, and also urged all Alumni to support the current administration of Prof. Georgewill to succeed.
It would be recalled that the new VC was born on May 15, 1965 in Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, with his twin sibling, Hon. Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill of the Court of Appeal.
He attended Bishop Crowder Memorial School, Abonnema between 1970 and 1976, and obtained a credit pass in the First Leaving School Certificate Examination before proceeding to the Nyemoni Grammar School also in Abonnema where he obtained his G.C.E. “O” Level Certificate in 1981 in flying colours.
His quest for higher education, took him to the University of Port Harcourt to study Medicine.
In 1987, he graduated with Second Class Honours Upper Division B.Med. Sc. degree in Pharmacology.
His diligence and hardworking nature earned him the nickname “Prof” as early as his secondyear of undergraduate study.
In 1990, he obtained the MBBS degree of the University of Port Harcourt.
He did his housemanship at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital before proceeding to Edo State for his one year National Youth Service as Medical Officer at the Specialist Hospital, Osisioma.
In 1993, he commenced residency training as a Registrar in the Department of Internal Medicine, UPTH.
In 1994, on the leading of his teacher and mentor, Prof Reginald Nwairegbu Pawa Nwankwoala of blessed memory, he applied and was employed as a Lecturer II in Pharmacology after a successful interview.
He rose through the ranks and was promoted to the rank of a Professor of Pharmacology on May, 4, 2010 at age 44.
He also holds the MSc degree in Pharmacology and the MD degree of the University of Port Harcourt.
Owunari has served the Department of Pharmacology, the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, the College of Health Sciences and the University of Port Harcourt in various capacities, during which he discharged his duties creditably.
As examination Officer in the Department of Pharmacology, He supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Department.
Owunari is a fellow of the Royal Society of Biology London; member, International Association of Medical Educators USA; member, Society of Peadiatric Oncologist Italy; member, American Society of Neurochemistry; member of the West African Society of Pharmocology; member, Nigerian Medical Association; member, Association of Specialist Medical Doctors in Academia; member, Indian Society of Pharmacology; member, The World Academy of Science; member, Research in Medicines Society; member, National Cancer Investigation Society UK; member, World Health Workers Without Borders; member, West African Society of Toxicology; and Fellow, Institute of Industrial Administrators.
He is a friend to the New York Academy of Medicine and the Australian Academy of Science.
Owunari has also served his community, Abonnema, his state, Rivers State, his professional associations, Nigeria Medical Association, and the West African Society of Pharmacology in various capacities.
He was appointed Justice of Peace by the Rivers State Government in 2002; served as Assistant Secretary General, NMA, Rivers State; Editorial Board member, Journal of the WASP; Secretary, Board of Governors, Comprehensive Secondary School, Abonnema; and Executive Adviser on Health, AKULGA.
He is a reviewer of Pharmacology articles for many journals. He is currently a member of the Editorial Board of the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine.
In 2010, Owunari was appointed Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Niger Delta University, where he served creditably during his tour of duty there. In February, 2012, he was elected, Deputy Provost, College of Health Sciences of UNIPORT.
In 2013, he was voted into the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt as Congregation Represntative where he served in various committes of council, including the Finance and General purpose committee F&GPC.
On the national arena, Owunari, served as chairman, Syndicate session on UBE in National Education Summit, organized by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Abuja in 2008.
He served as member of Technical Committee for the Senate Committee of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Education between 2008 and 2009.
He was a Resource Person at the National Education Conference organized by the Senate Committee on Education in conjunction with SIGNIP promotions in Abuja in March, 2010.
He has over 50 original articles in Peer Reviewed, Local, Regional and Foreign indexed Journals.
Owunari is happily married to his lovely wife, Dr. Udeme Georgewill, a lecturer also in the Department of Pharmacology, UNIPORT, and they both have four children.
He is a devout Christian of the Anglican Communion. He is a licensed lay reader and a Knight of St. Christopher.
In 2009, in recognition of his invaluable services to his community, he was installed a chief in the Otaji Group of Houses of Abonnema Coucil of Chiefs.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.
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