Dual Honours: RSU VC Gets Ahoada Chieftaincy Title As Krikese Community Fetes Him in Style

In a whirlwind of celebrations, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, the Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University (RSU), has been feted with not one, but two prestigious honors in a single day.

The trailblazing academic was conferred with a chieftaincy title in Ahoada, as the “Eze Obutor I of Ancient Ahoada Kingdom,” bestowed by the Paramount Ruler of Ancient Ahoada Kingdom, His Majesty, King Noble Friday Uwoh, amidst the Kingdom’s Council of Chiefs, Women, Youths, and the VC’s entourage.

Speaking at the ceremony in his Palace at Ahoada, the Monarch said the conferment was in recognition of Prof. Zeb-Obipi’s outstanding contributions as Vice-Chancellor and the development attracted to Ahoada through the establishment of the University’s satellite campus in the area, which has had a positive impact on the host community.

Following the conferment, the Vice-Chancellor, who is also a long-time Chief and Ogulacha II of Ogoloma in Okrika, expressed profound gratitude to the King, Chiefs, and people of Ancient Ahoada Kingdom for the honour, describing the title as the second in a role and call to higher responsibility.

He noted that his family, community, and the University deeply appreciated the gesture, which he accepted as a renewed commitment to greater service to God and humanity.

Meanwhile, back at his hometown in Okrika on the same day, the Krike Bese Academic Staff Community (Academics of Okrika ethnic extraction) hosted a grand reception in honour of their illustrious son, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi, who, according to them, was the first Okrika native to be Vice Chancellor of any state-owned University in Nigeria.

In his remarks, Dr Abam Ochedukokuma John, chairman of the planning committee, said the celebrant had “overtime proven to be a builder of systems, mentor of minds, shaper of potentials, and avid contributor to the development of the Okrika ethnic nationality.”

He noted that the reception was the least, they could do to demonstrate appreciation and reiterate his personality as a model worthy of emulation.

Lending his voice to the celebration, the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area, Chief Akuro Tobin, represented by the Secretary to the Local Government, Dr Kwani Oforiokuma, confirmed that the honour was timely and deserves to be repeated in a grander style.

He said the value placed on the celebrant was priceless and that the road around his residence, facilitated by the local government, had been completed. He pledged further collaboration with the Professor in the best interest of the local government area.

For his part, the Amanyanabo of Krike Kingdom, King Tamuno-Omisiki Ogube, offered royal blessings, saying the Vice Chancellor had brought pride to the Okrika nation, adding that “the drum that beats for truth is always heard beyond its Kingdom.”

He admonished the Vice Chancellor not to forget to return the good associated with his elevation to the community.

Speaking on behalf of the Rivers State University, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Prof Blessing Jaja, revealed that the “VC’s inclusive leadership, open door policy, responsive governance, student-centric approach to leadership, and unusual sensitivity to community engagement,” were all reasons why he was deserving of every honour.

He thanked the Krikese Academic Community for the honour, committing to strengthen cooperation with the Vice-Chancellor for greater outcomes.

In response, the chief celebrant and Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi, appreciated the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, for the privilege of being appointed from the three best choices that emerged after screening, wherein he came first.

He conveyed gratitude to the immediate-past governing council led by Justice Mary Odili (rtd), traditional rulers, the political class, stakeholders, former Vice chancellors, and the university community for their consensus support.

Ultimately, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the Krikese Academic Community for sacrificing to honour him in such grand style, reiterated his pledge on service to humanity, promising to ensure that key expectations of the institution and other stakeholders would be met in due course as time unfolds.

Cultural performances, masquerade display, music, food, and courtesies were in huge supply to entertain dignitaries and well-wishers that came from far and near to celebrate the man of many caps.