DELSU Community Celebrates Vice-Chancellor’s First Birthday in Office

By Faith Ebireri

Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, community on Thursday, 20 November 2025, felicitated with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Ogheneovo Asagba, as he marked his first birthday since assuming office.

The well-attended celebration that held at the Vice-Chancellor’s lounge in Site III, brought together principal officers, deans, friends, staff, and members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

The event highlighted Prof. Asagba’s friendly disposition and open-door policy.

The occasion began with an opening prayer by Prof. Felix Enwa, followed by a series of photographs with the Vice-Chancellor and his wife.

In his opening remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Hillary Owamah, described Prof. Asagba as “a man whom God has sent to transform the university.”

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Prof. Owamah praised the Vice-Chancellor’s scholarly excellence, noting that he boasts the highest number of Scopus-indexed publications among his peers.

“CV for CV, paper for paper, experience for experience, the Vice-Chancellor has it all,” he said, just as he traced Prof. Asagba’s progressive rise from Head of the Department of Biochemistry, to Dean of the Faculty of Science, Provost of the Asaba Campus, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) under two previous Vice-Chancellors, Professors Victor Peretomode and Andy Egwunyenga.

Prof. Asagba, who assumed office on 1st December 2024, has over 60 published papers and more than 1,038 citations.

His extensive administrative record includes serving as Dean of the Faculty of Science (2013–2015), Provost of the Asaba Campus (2016–2019), and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) (2019–2021). He also spent a sabbatical year as Dean at Dennis Osadebay University (2022–2023) and represented the university on its Governing Council for five consecutive years.

On his part, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Edmund Atakpo, commended the Vice-Chancellor’s collaborative leadership style.

“When he appointed me, I expected directives, but he gave me the freedom to act decisively.” Prof. Atakpo said.

He highlighted the Vice-Chancellor’s emphasis on fairness in disciplinary matters and his personal commitment to staff and student welfare, including regular weekend inspections of classrooms, hostels, and campus facilities.

Prof. Atakpo also lauded recent technological innovations under the Vice-Chancellor’s leadership, such as full online admission and screening processes, which eliminated the need for prospective students to travel, and the provision of free accommodation during screening exercises.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Samuel Ogege, offered brief but heartfelt prayers for the Vice-Chancellor’s continued strength and success.

Also speaking, Prof. Onos Onoriode Emoyan, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, who has worked closely with the Vice-Chancellor for many years, described him as a leader who relies on facts and evidence rather than rhetoric.

Members of the Students’ Union Government added to the joyful atmosphere with songs and tributes, praising the Vice-Chancellor’s active engagement with students and his innovative reforms within the student community.

The event, filled with laughter, merriment, and camaraderie, underscored the warm relationship between the university administration and its broader community.