Immediate past Vice Chancellor of the Nigeria Maritime University, (NMU), Delta State, Prof. Emanuel Adigio, was the toast of the occasion at the formal sendforth ceremony hosted in his honour by the Chairman and Governing Council of the university.
The event took place recently in Warri, Delta State, with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Abdullahi Nedanda Bardi; and the new Vice Chancellor, Prof. Flora Tobolayefa Oluwafemi, in attendance.
Members of council and departmental heads completed the parade of staff who turned up to cheer the second Vice Chancellor at the colourful reception. Tributes given by deans, directors and the various heads of departments confirmed Adigio as a distinctive administrator and team player who made a durable impact in the course of his service to the university.
As one respondent put it, ‘even the students miss him every day’. A well-articulated video presentation on Adigio’s achievements by Dr. Fatimah Abduldayan showed that the former VC made tremendous progress in the development profile of the university in a space of five years.
Besides initiating solar power supply and the steady provision of pipe-borne water on the two campuses, Adigio made enduring changes to the landscape of Kurutie and Okerenkoko by overseeing the construction of vast new hostel structures in the university. Among other things, he ensured the eventual accreditation of all courses in the university curriculum, and witnessed the triumph of the university in sports at the university games.
Adigio said: ‘I am grateful to have been given a chance to do my possible best to raise the profile of the Nigeria Maritime University, and to be appreciated so openly by staff and students. I have no doubt that my successor will improve on my performance, and draw greater attention to the university as a federal institution with a special mandate’.
Adigio was appointed the second Vice Chancellor of NMU by the then President Mohammadu Buhari. A Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Adigio took over from the first Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ongoebi Maureen Etebu.
Adigio’s statutory five-year term came to an end on 20 June 2025. He has since handed over to the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Flora Tobolayefa Oluwafemi, a daughter of Gbaramatu Kingdom, host community of the university.
