Prof. Sunny Ijirhevwe Awhefeada yesterday May 4th, 2026, took-over as the second substantive Vice Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
Joseph Obaro Ikupa
Prof. Awhefeada who until his recent appointment was the dean post graduate studies and former dean, Faculty of Arts, Delta State University, Abraka holds the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Benin, and Master of Arts and PhD degrees from the University of Ibadan where he studied English.
A professor of African and post colonial literature, Awhefeada brings to this role a wealth of experience that spans about two decades in the academia. Prof Awhefeada joined the Delta State University, Abraka in October 2021 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose through the ranks to become a professor in 2017. Professor Awhefeada has been head, Department of English, Dean Faculty of Arts, and Dean School of Postgraduate Studies, Delta State University, Abraka. He had also been the university Orator and held many other sensitive positions before now.
Prof. Awhefeada was a visiting lecturer to Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, as it was then known on Sabbatical in 2023. During this period, he distinguished himself as an erudite, versatile, and capable academic and administrator and laid the foundation for his coming to the university as the second substantive Vice Chancellor. Even though there was no Faculty of Arts in place then, the Department of Journalism and Media Studies where he served witnessed a transformation of values within the one year of his sourjourn there.
When Governor Oborevwori converted the university from a university of science and technology to a conventional university and changed its name to Southern Delta University with a campus at Orerokpe which kicked off in 2025, the Faculty of Arts was established. With the birth of the Faculty of Arts came Prof. Awhefeada’s cherished department of English and Literary Studies, alongside History and International Studies, and Theatre and Media Studies, which paved the ¹way for him to apply for the plum job of VC, we were certain that the Eagle has landed.
Prof. Awhefeada did not only come top at the interview, he caught the attention of the Governor and Visitor to the university Rt. Hon. Elder Sherrif Orowhedo Francis Oborevwori who appointed him to the position with pride and satisfaction that Prof. Awhefeada would deliver on his mandate.
Prof. Sunny Awhefeada brings to this role, a vast wealth of experience and knowledge in university administration, mentorship, and human capacity development.
In his acceptance speech Prof. Sunny Ijirhevwe Awhefeada promised to take the university to greater heights. He paid glowing tributes to his predecessor in office Prof. Jacob Oboreh for laying a solid foundation for the take-off of the university which metamorphosed from the defunct Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro.
He also appreciated Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for the establishment of three universities at once and also Elder Sherrif Oborevwori for creating the Orerokpe campus and the Faculty of Arts which qualified him to apply for the position of Vice Cancellor.
The arrival of Prof. Sunny
Ijirhevwe Awhefeada to Southern Delta University, Ozoro is the beginning of more development in the university. He has elected to build on the legacies of his predecessor, Prof. Jacob Snapps Oboreh a.k.a. The Developer. The discipline and dedication that Professor Awhefeada brings to this role will ensure greater heights and even more development in fulfilling Elder Sherrif Oborevwori’s “more agenda”. Congratulations to the doyen of African literature: An Eagle perched on an iroko tree. Welcome to Southern Delta University, Ozoro and Orerokpe Campus.
*Joseph Obaro Ikupa writes in from the Department of English Southern Delta University, Ozoro.*
