Akpoveta congratulates Ikomi on appointment as Pro-Chancellor, Dennis Osadebey Varsity - Truth Reporters

Dr Vincent Akpoveta, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Sciences, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology has congratulated Prof. Robert Bemigho Ikomi on his well-deserved appointment as the pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing council of the newly established Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba.

Akpoveta in a congratulatory message described Prof. Ikomi as his role model, mentor, lecturer and former employer at the defunct Delta State College of Education Agbor.

Dr Akpoveta Vincent who is the Sub-Dean School of Science and Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) OAUSTECH chapter described the appointment as well-deserved and befitting; as his wealth of academic, administrative and leadership experience will go a long way in positioning the newly established university as one of the leading institutions of learning and research in Nigeria in no distant time.

Prof Robert Bemigho Ikomi obtained his B.Sc. Hons. in Zoology (2nd Class Upper) in 1978 and M.Sc. Degree (Marine Biology) in1985 from the University of Lagos. He obtained his Ph.D in Zoology (Hydrobiology/Fisheries) in 1995 from the University of Port Harcourt. He is a Chartered Biologist of the Institute of Biology, United Kingdom and also an Environmentalist certified by United State Environmental Protection Agency/Ministry of Environment, Lagos, Nigeria; coupled with vast experience and portfolio encasing a number of impact assessments studies and evaluations in the Niger Delta including AMEC Canada & SPDC research, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Professor Ikomi is an accomplished Academic and Administrator in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. He attained the Professorial status in 2002 and has occupied and functioned in several notable positions in the university and beyond. These include: Chief Examination Officer, Department of Biological Sciences, Bendel State University, Abraka Campus (1989 - 1991); Sub-Dean, Faculty of Science, (1993 - 1996); Acting Head, Department of Zoology (1996 – 1998 and 2001); Acting Head, Department of Biological Science, (1998 - 2001); Acting Dean, Faculty of Science, (2001- 2003); Head, Department of Zoology, (2004 - 2005); Dean, Faculty of Science, (2005 - 2009) Member of Senate (1996-2001) and Permanent Member of Senate (2002 to date) Delta State University.

He was also Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), (2009 - 2013). He was a member of various committees; University Examination Malpractices Committee (Nov. 1990 - Aug.1991 and 1999 - Dec. 2002); University Ceremonial Committee(1992-1993) and Task Force on Take-off of the DELSU Secondary School(March, 1993); Member of Panel to review cases of Falsification of Entry Certificate into the university (Oct. 1993); Member, Senate Committee on Establishment of Institute of Niger Delta Studies(2001); Member, Committee on Review of Promotion Criteria for Assessment of Academic Staff (2002); Member, A & P.C. on Review of Criteria for Assessment of promotion for Academic Staff (2005) and University Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee (2005-2008).

He was Secretary, Academic Board, Biological Science Department (Oct., 1990-Aug., 1991); Coordinator, SIWES Programme, Department of Zoology (1994-1995); Vice-Chancellor’s Representative at the Faculty of Arts Appointment and Promotions Committee, (1997-1999) and Delta State University Contact person to the Federal Consultant on Assessment of Biotechnology Activities in Nigeria (July, 2001-Date). Professor Ikomi has been saddled with various responsibilities in Delta State University, Abraka where he functioned effectively. They include: Chairman, Faculty Time Table Committee (1993-1996); Chairman, Faculty Space and Allocation Committee (1993-1996); Chairman, NUC Accreditation Committee for Faculty of Science (1996); Senate Representative, Academic Policy and Planning Committee (1997-2001); Senate Representative, University Health Centre Committee (1998 -2001); Senate Representative, Junior Staff Appointment and Promotions Committee (2001-2008); Senate Representative, DELSU Investment Ltd (2002-Oct., 2003); Chairman, Post-JAMB Examination Committee (2005-2012); Senate Representative, Nomination of Honorary Degrees (2006).

He is currently a member, Advisory Committee and Chairman, Tetfund Research Committee, Delta State University, Abraka. He is also Chairman, Review of 2018 Promotion and Appointment Criteria for Academic staff, Delta State University. Senate Member, Committee for the take-off of the Faculty of Environmental Science, Asaba Campus, Delta State University.

Outside the university, he was involved in the following: Census Facilitator, Training Programme for the participants of the 1991 Census in Bendel State for the National Population Commission; External Moderator, Biology Programme, College of Education, Warri (1993-1999) and External Moderator, Biology Courses, Department of Industrial Safety and Environmental Engineering, Petroleum Training Institute, Warri (1999-2004). Chairman, 8th Governing Council, College of Education, Agbor (Jan.-Jun., 2007) and Chairman/ Member NUC Accreditation Panel at various times. He was equally an External Examiner for B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. Programmes in a number of Nigerian institutions including: Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Edo State; River State University of Science and Technology, Port-Harcourt; University of Benin, Benin City; University of Lagos, Lagos State; Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa, and University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

He has assessed several academic for promotion to the ranks of Associate Professors and Professors in various Universities. He was a member of Delta State Advisory and Peace building council (2015- 2019).

Prof. Ikomi is an accomplished and well-read academic with several publications in his specialized areas of Hydrobiology/Fisheries, Wetland Ecology, Environmental and Conservation Studies. He has over 70 quality articles widely dispersed in International Indexed, National and Local Journals.

He is also credited with four chapters in books. He has also supervised and mentored a good number of MSc and Ph.D students who today are senior academics and hold positions of high responsibility.

He holds membership of various professional bodies including: Ecological Society of Nigeria, Fisheries Society of Nigeria, Institute of Biology, United Kingdom, Nigerian Association of Aquatic Science, Science Association of Nigeria and Nigerian Environmental Society.

His display of good industry towards academic research puts his global research visibility and recognition by the globally ranked Google scholar at an h-index of 19, global average citations of 981 and i10-index of 24.

Prof. Ikomi is a devoted Christian from the Baptist faith and hapily married with children. A very big congratulations to the big boss, Prof. Robert Ikomi.