Africa-Press – Nigeria. Prof. Austin Nosike, a distinguished economist and management scholar, has been appointed Vice Chancellor of James Hope University, Lekki–Lagos, Nigeria.
In an official statement issued by the University’s Board of Trustees on August 8, 2025, the Board—exercising its powers under the Universities Act—considered the recommendation submitted by the Joint Governing Council, Senate, and Search Team, and formally approved Prof. Nosike’s appointment as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution.
Prof. Nosike brings over three decades of experience in higher education and human capacity development, encompassing teaching, research, and consulting across both private and public institutions in Africa, America, Europe, and Asia.
He joins James Hope University with a distinguished track record as a scholar and astute administrator, deeply committed to advancing academic excellence and promoting international best practices in higher education and human capital development.
Throughout his career, Prof. Nosike has held several key administrative positions within university systems around the world, including Head of Department, Director, Dean, and Deputy Vice Chancellor.
As Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nosike serves as the Chief Executive, Chief Accounting Officer, and Academic Head of James Hope University. He is an ex-officio member of the Governing Council, Chairman of the Senate, and Chairman of the Congregation.
Prof. Nosike is the principal exponent of the University’s educational mission. His office functions as the nerve center for all institutional activities, including protocol, external relations, and the coordination of various internal bodies.
The Vice-Chancellor holds overarching responsibility and accountability for the effective and efficient management and leadership of the University. This includes aligning operations with its policies, goals, and objectives, providing financial stewardship that supports the University’s mission, and consistently upholding its core values and public image.
Prof. Nosike is expected to exercise general superintendence over the University and oversee the regulation of student admissions, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures approved by the University Senate and other relevant statutory agencies.
He is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the institution and ensures strict adherence to the provisions of the University’s Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, and Regulations.
As Vice-Chancellor, he shall consistently advise the Governing Council on matters related to finance and administration. He is accountable to the Council for maintaining peace, order, and the efficient management of University affairs, enforcing institutional policies, and upholding discipline across the University.
James Hope University is a fully accredited and recognized institution under the Federal Government of Nigeria, established through the philanthropic vision of the Jim Ovia Foundation.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Jim Ovia has consistently pursued more than business success. Deeply committed to Nigeria’s development and the well-being of its people, he has long believed that the rewards of his achievements should contribute meaningfully to national progress and the advancement of international higher education.
In line with this belief, Mr. Jim Ovia established the James Hope College Foundation in May 2013—a not-for-profit initiative dedicated to delivering world-class education.
The success of the College, coupled with sustained encouragement from stakeholders, guidance from the National Universities Commission (NUC), and a strong desire to expand the Foundation’s impact to the highest level of education, ultimately inspired the establishment of James Hope University.
To bring this vision to life, a Planning and Implementation Committee (PIC), composed of seasoned academics and industry experts, was established to oversee the foundational development of the University.
In 2021, James Hope University was officially granted its license to operate by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Universities Commission (NUC). The University has since commenced academic activities.
Prof. Nosike began his career as a journalist, human rights activist, and public relations professional. His experience in management consultancy is broad, deep, and current, having worked with Ace Consultancy Services, Afro-Euro Consult, and Peak Consultancy Services. Through these roles, he facilitated numerous human capital development initiatives, including senior executive courses, in-house training programs, recruitment exercises, and corporate auditing.
He has organized over 100 international conferences, seminars, and workshops across the globe. Prof. Nosike maintains consulting status with several governments, international agencies, and NGOs, and has contributed to a wide range of research projects and capacity-building initiatives. His work spans critical areas such as globalization, corporate governance, development management, business environment, public and social policy, finance, consumer behavior, industrial relations, environmental management, human ecology, project management, corporate re-engineering, peace, security, and human rights.
Prior to this appointment, Prof. Nosike held senior management positions at several institutions, including the International University of Equator in Bujumbura, Burundi; University of Kigali in Kigali, Rwanda; Metropolitan International University (MIU); Copperstone University in Kitwe, Zambia; and Ugandan Pentecostal University in Fort Portal, among others.
He also served as Visiting Professor of Finance and Management at Kigali Independent University (ULK), and as Visiting Scholar of Globalization and Development at Universidad del País Vasco in Gipuzkoa, Spain. Additionally, Prof. Nosike was President of Development Africa Consortium—a leading international consulting and research institution—and President of the African Academy of Economics.
Prof. Nosike has held numerous teaching, research, consulting, and administrative positions at institutions across the globe. These include Open Christian University in Delaware, USA; African Institute of Management, Technology and Development Studies in Kigali, Rwanda; University of Mkar in Mkar, Nigeria; Uganda Management and Technology University (UTAMU); Avance International University in Kampala, Uganda; Kaduna Polytechnic; Nigerian Defense Academy; Technological and Economic Development Mission (TEDEM); Alvan Ikoku College of Education in Owerri; and The African Management Institute under the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In addition, he has served in various academic capacities—such as Research Fellow, Professor, Chair, and Director—at Ballsbridge University; Granada Management Institute (Universidad de Granada) in Granada, Spain; Afro-Euro Centre for Development Studies in Accra, Ghana; and the Mediterranean Centre for Social and Educational Research (Sapienza University) in Rome, Italy.
In 2024, upon the invitation of the Government of Namibia and under the auspices of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), Prof. Nosike served as Chairperson of the University Audit Panel.
His appointment reflected best global practices in headhunting for strategic leadership roles within Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). The engagement of the Nigerian-born academic ushered in a wave of innovation and academic distinction, particularly in the areas of quality assurance, academic planning, and resource verification.
Prof. Nosike has successfully supervised numerous PhD candidates and Master’s students to completion. His leadership, mentorship, and research expertise are widely respected, as he continues to guide postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows through their academic and research journeys.
He is recognized as a Higher Education Expert and Chartered Administrator. His professional affiliations include Fellow of the Board of Quality Standards, Fellow of the Institute of Policy Management Development, and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Professionals, among others.
Prof. Nosike is the recipient of numerous fellowships and research grants, with a distinguished record of awards and recognitions that underscore his excellence as a scholar.
He won First Prize in the 1992 International Essay Competition for Nigerian University Students, organized by the Forum for the Advancement of Nigeria in Philadelphia, USA. His accolades also include the Central European University Fellowship Award, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Travel Research Grant, and the International Institute of Human Rights Fellowship Award.
Additional honors include the Imo State Government Scholarship Award (Imo State Scholarship Board), International Youth of the Year Award (Africa) from the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England, and listings in Marquis Who’s Who in the World and the International Who’s Who of Professionals (North Carolina, USA).
He was also recognized with the 20th Century Award for Achievement in Education, featured in the Dictionary of International Biography, and received a Special Commendation from the Chairman of the Editorial Board of Imo Newspapers Ltd (The Statesman).
Prof. Nosike has played an active role in numerous high-level continental and international engagements. He served as a Delegate at the Pan African Summit on Water in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2003), and as West African Delegate at the African Civil Society Consultative Meeting on Water, Sanitation, and Human Settlement organized by UNECA in Addis Ababa (2004). He was also a Special Observer at the 2003 African Ministerial Council on Water and Sanitation, held in Addis Ababa.
In 2004, Prof. Nosike represented Nigeria at the African Hunger Summit hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. He participated as a Delegate at the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union and as a Special Observer at the 5th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council. That same year, he served as Secretary to Dr. Jean Griffith’s Human Resources Selection Panel at the African Union Commission.
Beyond these roles, Prof. Nosike has held long-standing leadership positions, including Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Centre for Environment and Community Development (since 2002), Co-founder of the Network on Water and Development in Nigeria (2003), and Secretary of the Niger Delta Network on Human Rights.
Prof. Nosike has held a wide array of leadership, advisory, and academic roles across national and international platforms. He served as Chairman of the Human Settlement Session (Africa) for the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD12) at the UN Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, and as Secretary of the Nigeria Money and Capital Market Project in 1995.
In 2003, he led the Niger Delta Environmental Health Project as Project Team Leader. He was a Guest Lecturer for the Association of Citizens for Service in Lagos (1996), and Team Leader of the Economic Globalization and Labour Study Group at the Afro-Euro Centre for Development Studies in Warsaw (2006). He also served as a Resource Fellow at the African Leadership Forum in Ota-Abeokuta and as Consultant on Water, Sanitation, and Human Ecology for the United Nations Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Addis Ababa.
Prof. Nosike was Regional Coordinator for the Association of Citizens for Service (1994–1996), and a Member of the Imo State Committee on the Review of Education and Development (1995). He delivered a keynote lecture at the 2000 Jubilee Youth Rally organized by the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria and has served as Trustee of the Youths for Christ Foundation since 1999.
His governance roles include membership in the Governing Council of the Centre for Applied Development and Public Policy in Abidjan, Chairmanship of the Publicity Sub-Committee for the 1992 Second Alvana Social Science Congress, and membership on the Advisory Panel for the Programme on Spatial Equity of Social Services in Nigeria.
Prof. Nosike is also the Founder of the Cajetan Nosike Memorial Trust and a contributing member of the “Nigerian Development Since 1960” Project and the Nigerian Development Council in Abuja.
Prof. Nosike has actively participated in, coordinated, and served on more than 30 research programs. He boasts an impressive portfolio of over 200 publications, including books, edited volumes, conference proceedings, academic journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, and monographs.
He has delivered Convocation Lectures, Invited Lectures, Keynote Speeches, and Lead Papers at numerous academic and professional events across various countries.
Prof. Nosike is the Founding President of the African Association of Journal Editors. His editorial leadership includes serving as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Business and Economics and the Journal of Social and Educational Research, as well as Editor of the African Journal of Development Studies. He is also Managing Editor of the Journal of Social and Policy Studies and Editor of the African Development Review, a joint publication of the African Management Institute and Development Africa Consortium.
His consultancy and editorial roles span several publishing houses, including Tonyben Publishers Ltd, Macmillan Press Ltd (Lagos), and Fourth Dimension Publishers Ltd (Enugu). He has served as Book Reviewer for Micro Computer Application for the New Age (2000), and as a Member of the Editorial Board for the Journal of Women Studies and Research. Additionally, he is Secretary of the Editorial Board for the African Journal of Research in Education and contributes to the editorial boards of numerous international journals.
Prof. Nosike has a proven track record in higher education and a distinguished commitment to advancing learning and research. He is well-positioned to make a sustainable impact on James Hope University and the broader academic community.
His appointment is expected to usher in a new era of growth and excellence for the institution. As a scholar of notable pedigree, with extensive experience in higher education and human capital development, Prof. Nosike brings a holistic perspective to university governance—emphasizing the importance of cultivating a dynamic learning environment and fostering meaningful community engagement.
His vision for James Hope University centers on building a vibrant educational community where faculty, students, and stakeholders are empowered to achieve academic excellence. Deeply committed to student success, his leadership is anticipated to expand opportunities for innovation, research, collaboration, and a strong focus on community outreach.
Born on March 23, 1972, Prof. Nosike graduated with Distinction from Anambra State College of Education, Awka, and earned a BSc (Hons) Upper Second Class degree from the University of Nigeria in 1993. He pursued graduate studies at the Centre for Social Studies (CSS) in Warsaw, Poland; University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom; Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary; and the International Institute for Human Rights in Strasbourg, France.
He holds a Master’s degree in Project Management from Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM), Murcia, Spain; a PhD in Economics (with Distinction) from Universidad Central de Nicaragua; and both an MSc in Accounting and Finance and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Universidad Azteca, Chalco, Mexico.
Prof. Nosike is a Christian of Catholic faith. He has visited over 30 countries, speaks two international languages—Spanish and English—and is married.
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