Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has approved the appointment of renowned historian, Professor Samuel Ovuete Aghalino, as the second substantive Vice Chancellor of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba.
The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari, who presented the appointment letter to Professor Aghalino at his office in Asaba, described the appointment as a significant step in the continued growth of the relatively young university.
He charged the new Vice Chancellor to deploy his vast academic and administrative experience toward advancing research, academic excellence and institutional development.
Professor Tonukari noted that the appointment reflects the Oborevwori administration’s commitment to strengthening higher education in the state and ensuring that state-owned universities are led by scholars with proven competence and global academic exposure.
Professor Aghalino, an indigene of Owhelogbo in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, is currently a Professor of History in the Department of History and International Studies at the University of Ilorin.
He has built an impressive academic career spanning nearly three decades.
A distinguished scholar and respected intellectual, Aghalino previously served as President of the Historical Society of Nigeria, the foremost professional body for historians in the country. During his tenure, he played a key role in promoting historical scholarship, strengthening research collaboration and encouraging greater engagement between historians and public policy institutions.
He began his academic career at the University of Ilorin in the mid-1990s as an Assistant Lecturer and steadily rose through the ranks to become a full Professor of History.
Over the years, he has held several strategic academic and administrative positions within the university, including Head of the Department of History and International Studies and Director of the University of Ilorin Archives and Documentation Centre.
Widely regarded as an authority in Economic and Social History, Professor Aghalino’s research focuses extensively on the political economy of the Niger Delta, particularly the historical impact of oil exploration and its socio-economic implications for the region.
His scholarly contributions have enriched discussions on resource control, environmental justice and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.
A prolific scholar, he has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles published in reputable local and international journals.
One of his notable works, Oil Exploitation in the Western Niger Delta: A Cost-Benefit Analysis, 1956–1995, is widely referenced in academic studies examining the historical and economic implications of oil production in the region.
Professor Aghalino has also participated in several international conferences and academic engagements across the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore and Kenya, where he presented research papers and collaborated with scholars on global academic platforms.
His contributions to scholarship have earned him several recognitions, including honours from the Historical Society of Nigeria for his outstanding service to the discipline.
He has also served on numerous academic and public policy bodies, including governing councils of tertiary institutions and advisory committees on education and research.
In addition, he has participated in programme accreditation exercises for the National Universities Commission and served as a resource person for national education bodies.
Stakeholders have described his appointment as a well-deserved recognition of decades of dedication to scholarship, research and academic leadership.
Observers believe his emergence as Vice Chancellor will further strengthen the academic profile of Dennis Osadebay University and position the institution as a centre of excellence in teaching, research and innovation.
For many in Delta State, particularly within the Isoko nation, Professor Aghalino’s appointment represents a moment of pride as the region continues to produce distinguished professionals contributing meaningfully to national development.
With his wealth of academic experience, administrative competence and international exposure,
Professor Aghalino is widely expected to provide visionary leadership that will drive the growth, competitiveness and global relevance of Dennis Osadebay University in the years ahead.
