Vice Chancellor

Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi is from Ogoloma in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He is a Christian, married with children, and a traditional ruler known as Chief Ogulacha II of Ogoloma, Okrika.

He holds a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree in Economics (Second Class Upper) from the University of Ibadan.

He also earned an MBA in Management and a PhD in Organizational Behaviour from the Rivers State University.

Over the years, he has obtained certificates from various trainings and conferences, including those on entrepreneurship development, learning management systems, ICT and digital literacy, and the use of Artificial Intelligence in research, teaching, learning, administration, and daily living.

He received his West African School Certificate (WASC) in just four years instead of five, due to a double promotion from Class 1 to Class 3, following excellent performance.

Prof. Zeb-Obipi joined Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, in 1997 as an Assistant Lecturer. He transferred from the Post Primary School Management Board, where he had risen to the rank of Senior Master (Economics) after joining as Master Grade II in 1991.

He became a Professor of Management in 2018, with a specialization in Organizational Behaviour, Human Resource Management, and Industrial Relations.

With nearly 28 years of teaching experience, he has authored over 100 publications and supervised more than 60 doctoral graduates.

He is the most senior professor in his department and has held key roles such as Director of the ICT Centre, University Orator, 79th Inaugural Lecturer, and member of the Senate, Management Committee, and 14th Governing Council.

Other roles include Dean of Student Affairs, Faculty Associate Dean, Programme Coordinator, and President of the University Senior Staff Club. He has also served in the University Alumni Association and as Alumni Representative in the 12th Governing Council.

His service spans committee leadership and active involvement in student, union, and community development.

In his various university roles, Prof. Zeb‑Obipi has gained wide‑ranging administrative experience and is known for strong communication, leadership, and problem‑solving skills. As Faculty Examination Officer, he led the move from manual to electronic result processing and received a national ICT4D Award for advancing ICT in education.

While Acting Head of the Department of Management, he created the examination‑offence table now printed in handbooks and launched professional‑body lecture series such as the CIPMtalks for students.

As Acting Head of Office & Information Management, he restored harmony in a once‑fractious department, revamped its curriculum, and introduced year‑by‑year mentoring that produced the department’s first first‑class graduates in many years—now PhD‑holding lecturers there.

During his term as Dean of Student Affairs, he oversaw the hand‑over of two new hostels, introduced electronic voting for student‑union elections, rebuilt the SRC and SJC arms of the SUG, established new SUG and NURSS secretariats, and set up a Dialogue Centre that has kept major student unrest at bay.

Elected President of the University Senior Staff Club, he healed a deep internal rift, coined the club’s “socio‑intellectualism” motto, and launched the annual Vice‑Chancellor’s Cup inter‑union football match.

As Director of ICT, he introduced a “team‑service line” structure, equipped smart boardrooms for global meetings, promoted a “result‑before‑excuse” ethos, and started the annual onboarding–evaluation–thanksgiving cycle now adopted university‑wide.

The University’s longest‑serving Orator, he has read citations for 71 of 109 inaugural lecturersand many major ceremonies. His event innovations attracted a Professorial Chair in Marketing (2016) and a multi‑million‑naira sports‑equipment donation (2022).

From among 15 candidates who applied for the position of Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb‑Obipi emerged the best, scoring over 90% in an interview conducted by the Joint Council‑Senate Selection Committee.

The 14th Governing Council, accepting the results, recommended him and two others to the Visitor of the University.

In accordance with the Rivers State University Law, Number 4, 2017, the Visitor and Governor of Rivers State approved his appointment as the 12th Vice-Chancellor (9th Substantive Vice-Chancellor) of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt.

His appointment took effect from Thursday, March 6, 2025.