Delta State Governor, 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, in a move aimed at strengthening academic leadership in the state-owned institution.
The State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari, presented the appointment letter to Professor Aghalino in Asaba, describing the appointment as a significant milestone in the development of the relatively young university. He charged the new Vice Chancellor to bring his vast academic and administrative experience to bear in advancing research, academic excellence, and institutional growth.
Tonukari noted that the appointment reflects the commitment of the Oborevwori administration to strengthening higher education in Delta State by ensuring that state-owned universities are led by scholars with proven competence and global academic exposure. According to him, the choice of Aghalino underscores government’s resolve to consolidate the academic and administrative foundations of Dennis Osadebay University.
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, earning recognition as a respected scholar and intellectual in the field of history.
Aghalino previously served as President of the Historical Society of Nigeria, the country’s foremost professional body for historians, where 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, 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 work has contributed significantly to 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.
Beyond his publications, Aghalino has 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 service to the discipline. He has also served on various 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, the appointment of Professor Aghalino 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.
