By ABURE, Pedro Anetor_
Tomorrow, Monday, May 4, 2026, marks not just another administrative transition in Delta State’s academic landscape; it marks the dawn of a new era as ‘Professor Sunny Awhefeada’ formally resumes office as Vice Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Ozoro.
In making this appointment, *Governor Sheriff Oborevwori* has once again demonstrated what many have come to describe as the *eye of an eagle-* that rare ability to spot excellence from afar, to identify substance beneath simplicity, and to recognize leadership wrapped in humility.
And in Professor Sunny Awhefeada, that eagle eye has found not merely an academic, but a reformer, a humanist, a scholar, and a builder of men.
From humble beginnings, Awhefeada’s journey has been one of grit, discipline, scholarship, and uncommon purpose. Through dedication and intellectual excellence, he rose through the ranks of academia, building an enviable career in literature, scholarship, and human development. His rise was never accidental; it was earned-step by step, lecture by lecture, student by student.
Yet, beyond the titles and academic robes lies a man whose greatest credential may well be his humanity.
Long before this historic appointment, those of us privileged to pass through his classroom in the Department of English knew we were in the presence of something rare. At a time when the department struggled under practices that often left students voiceless and representation weakened by entrenched interests, the arrival of Sunny Awhefeada brought quiet but unmistakable liberation.
He frowned at systems that diminished students. He encouraged accountability. He taught us that departmental unions were not ceremonial ornaments or rubber stamps, but platforms for advocacy, dignity, and student consciousness. Through him, many of us first understood human rights-not merely as theory in books, but as principles to be lived.
He was not just a lecturer.
He was a reformer.
He was not just an intellectual.
He was, and remains, an enemy of oppression, suppression, and institutional complacency.
If you approached him in the corridor, in his office, under a tree, or on the road, he would stop, listen, explain, and guide. Knowledge, to Sunny Awhefeada, was never a commodity to be hoarded; it was a torch meant to be passed.
It was under his inspiring influence that the *ELSA-English and Literary Students Association-* witnessed one of its finest transformations. During my tenure as President, the association saw the birth of its first functional library-equipped with literary texts, glossaries, and scholarly materials that expanded our horizons. That vision bore his fingerprints.
It was also under his inspiring influence that the *Creative Writers’ Workshop* was formed-an intellectual platform that exposed students to literary appreciation, critical reading, creative expression, and disciplined writing. Through that noble initiative, many young writers found their voices and sharpened their literary instincts. It was within that fertile circle that writers such as Stephen Kekeghe, Peter Omoko, myself, and many others evolved, matured, and embraced the lifelong discipline of letters.
Years later, when *his in-law, Captain Richard Happy MADUKU (Rtd.),* once asked me why former and recent students seemed almost unusually fond of Sunny Awhefeada, my answer came without hesitation:
*“Because he is not merely a teacher-he is a reformer. Once you pass through him, you leave transformed, prepared to confront life with courage, dignity, and purpose.”*
Behind this remarkable man stands an equally remarkable woman-his devoted wife, whose love, warmth, and unwavering support have helped steady his journey. In many ways, Sunny and his wife are like Siamese twins in spirit-deeply connected, perfectly synchronized, bound by service, humility, and hospitality.
Indeed, if you ever visit the Awhefeadas, come prepared-not for formality, but for abundance. Madam U. Awhefeada does not simply serve meals; she serves affection on plates-owho soup, fresh banga, fish, pepper delicacies, and the unmistakable warmth of home. Hospitality in that household is not performance; it is culture.
As Professor Awhefeada assumes office tomorrow, Southern Delta University is not merely gaining a Vice Chancellor-it is gaining a visionary.
Under his watch, one can confidently foresee:
•Modern infrastructural renewal
•Digitally equipped libraries and research hubs
•Protection of student rights
•Merit-driven administration
•Academic transparency and accountability
•International collaborations
•Staff development and student empowerment
There is little doubt that the university will feel the touch of a man who has spent his life transforming whatever he touches.
*And perhaps this office is not his final destination.*
For men like Sunny Awhefeada, positions are rarely destinations; they are stepping stones.
Tomorrow, as he steps into this historic responsibility, we wish him wisdom, strength, divine guidance, and the courage to remain exactly what he has always been:
*Refined. Humble. Accessible. Courageous. Humane.*
Congratulations, Professor Sunny Awhefeada.
Southern Delta University has gained a Vice Chancellor.
But Delta State-and indeed Nigeria-may well be witnessing the rise of something even greater.
