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Meet Owunari Abraham Georgewill, UniPort 9th Vice Chancellor

By Sam Kpenu

 

Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill was born with his twin sibling, Hon Justice Biobele Georgewill JCA on May 15, 1965 in Abonnema, Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. He attended Bishop Crowder Memorial School, Abonnema between 1970 and 1976 and obtained a Credit pass in the First Leaving School Certificate Examination. He then proceeded to the Nyemoni Grammar School also in Abonnema between 1970 and 1976 and obtained a Credit pass in the First Leaving School Certificate Examination. He then proceeded to the Nyemoni Grammar School also in Abonnema where he obtained his O' Level Certificate in 1981 with flying colours. 
His quest for higher education, took him to the University of Port Harcourt to study Medicine. In 1987, he graduated with Second Class Honours Upper Division (B.Med. Sc.) degree in Pharmacology. His diligence earned him the nickname “Prof” as early as his second year of Undergraduate study. In 1990, he obtained the MBBS degree of the University of Port Harcourt. He did his Housemanship at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital before proceeding to Edo State for his one-year National Youth Service Corps scheme as Medical Officer at the Specialist Hospital, Ossiomo. In 1993, he commenced Residency training as a Registrar in the Department of Internal Medicine, UPTH. In 1994, on the leading of his teacher and mentor, Professor Reginald Nwairegbu Pawa Nwankwoala of blessed memory, he applied and was employed as a Lecturer II in Pharmacology after a successful interview. He rose through the ranks and was promoted Professor of Pharmacology on May 4, 2010 at age 44. 
He holds the MSc degree in Pharmacology and the MD degree of the University of Port Harcourt. Professor Owunari Georgewill has served the Department of Pharmacology, the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, the College of Health Sciences and the University of Port Harcourt in various capacities: As Examination Officer in the Department of Pharmacology. He has served as Acting Head of Department, Pharmacology and Associate Dean of Student Affairs Department, Member, 
Professor Hostel Maintenance Committee, Students Welfare Committee, Medical Officer, Team UniPort, Deputy Team Leader Team UniPort at WAUG in Kumasi, Ghana and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He served as Board Chairman, UDPS Governing Board. In all these positions, he discharged his duties creditably. Professor Owunari Georgewill is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, London and Institute of Industrial Administrators. He is also a Member, International Association of Medical Educators USA, Society of Paediatric Oncologist, Italy, American Society of Neurochemistry, West African Society of Pharmacology, Nigerian Medical Association, Association of Specialist Medical Doctors in Academia, Indian Society for Pharmacology, The World Academy of Science, Research in Medicines Society, National Cancer Investigation Society UK, World Health Workers Without Borders and West African Society of Toxicology. He is a friend to the New York Academy of Medicine and the Australian Academy of Science. Professor Owunari Georgewill has also served his community Abonnema, Rivers State, Professional Associations, Nigeria Medical Association and the West African Society of Pharmacology in various capacities. He was appointed Justice of Peace by the Rivers State Government in 2002. He has served as Assistant Secretary General NMA, Rivers State, Editorial Board member, Journal of the WASP, Secretary, Board of Governors, Comprehensive Secondary School, Abonnema, and Executive Adviser on Health, AKULGA. In 2015, he served as Honourable Commissioner in Rivers State Commission of Enquiry. He is a Reviewer of Pharmacology articles for many journals. He is currently a Member of the Editorial Board of the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine. In 2010, Professor Georgewill was appointed Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Niger Delta University, where  he served creditably during his tour of duty there. In February, 2012 he was elected, Deputy Provost, College of Health Sciences of the University. 
In 2013, he was voted into the Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt as Congregation Representative where he served in various Committees of Council including the Finance and General Purpose Committee F&GPC. Professor Georgewill, served as Chairman, Syndicate Session on UBE in National Education Summit, organised by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Abuja in 2008. He served as Member of Technical Committee for the Senate Committee of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Education between 2008 and 2009.  He was a Resource Person at the National Education Conference organised by the Senate Committee on Education in conjunction with SIGNIP promotions in Abuja in March 2010. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria.Professor Georgewill's engagement in research activity began in 1987 and has culminated in the writing of a textbook in Pharmacology: “Reasoning in Drug Biology” and contribution of Chapters to books on Pharmacology. He has over 50 original articles in peer-reviewed, local regional and foreign indexed Journals. 
He has served as External Examiner in MBBS, MSc and PhD examinations in many universities in Nigeria.
He loves his wife, his twin sibling, Hon. Justice Biobele Georgewill and his children and grandson dearly. He is a devout Christian of the Anglican Communion. He is a licensed Lay Reader and a Knight of St. Christopher. 
Professor Georgewill is happily married to his lovely wife, Dr Udeme Georgewill, a Lecturer also in the Department of Pharmacology. He has four children, Barrister Melford, Tamunoemi, Tamunodein and Tamunobakam and a grandson, Master Tamunotariye Georgewill.
Education Summit, organised by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Abuja in 2008. He served as Member of Technical Committee for the Senate Committee of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Education between 2008 and 2009.  He was a Resource Person at the National Education Conference organised by the Senate Committee on Education in conjunction with SIGNIP promotions in Abuja in March 2010. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial Administration of Nigeria.
His research activities has taken him through the University of Texas in Houston, the MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, the Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK, Cancer Research Centre London, German Cancer Research Centre Heidelberg, Germany, School of Tropical Medicine Liverpool, Department of Pharmacology University of Liverpool, New York Academy of Medicine NY, Department of Pharmacology University of Birmingham, Harvard Medical School, Boston amongst others.
He has served as External Examiner in MBBS, MSc and PhD Examinations in many Universities in Nigeria. Professor Georgewill is happily married to his lovely wife, Dr Udeme Georgewill, a Lecturer also in the Department of Pharmacology. He has four children, Barrister Melford, Tamunoemi, Tamunodein and Tamunobakam and a grandson, Master Tamunotariye Georgewill. He loves his wife, his twin sibling, Hon. Justice Biobele Georgewill and his children and grandson dearly. He is a devout Christian of the Anglican Communion. He is a licensed Lay Reader and a Knight of St. Christopher. In 2009, in recognition of his invaluable services to his community, he was installed a Chief in the Otaji Group of Houses of Abonnema Coucil of Chiefs. Professor Owunari Abraham Georgewill, an erudite scholar, an academic colossus, an achiever par excellence, a Knight of St. Christopher, a lover of God, a loving husband, a doting father of four, a Justice of Peace, a traditional ruler, a Pharmacologist, a toxicologist par excellence, a great and unique set of twin, a humble and unassuming academic, is the 9th Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt.

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