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The University of Cross River State (UniCross) Alumni Association commends Governor Bassey Otu’s giant strides since assuming office, notably the transformation Calabar as well as enhanced security across the state. The association also expresses its eternal gratitude to the Governor over his past support to the university, particularly in facilitating the construction of our administrative block.
However, the Association is deeply disappointed that our beloved university failed to secure a spot in the top ten universities in Nigeria, according to the latest Times Higher Education Ranking. This is a significant drop from our previous ranking of seventh in the country and 37th in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are concerned that this decline is a direct result of the leadership instability that has plagued our institution.
Consequently, we appeal to Governor Otu to appoint a substantive Vice Chancellor, rather than continuing with the current Acting Vice Chancellor arrangement at the end of the tenure of the current Acting VC. The constant changes in leadership have created uncertainty and hindered progress. In the past three months alone, we have had three different Vice Chancellors, which is unacceptable. Our university needs stability to grow and thrive.
The Alumni wonders why UniCross is treated differently as the Governor has set a standard of swiftly replacing other suspended government officials in the past to bring stability and avoid derailing the focus of his administration. Five months have passed since the Vice Chancellor’s suspension, with no official communication from the government on the investigation’s outcome. This silence suggests a lack of interest in the former Vice Chancellor’s return. Therefore, we urge the Governor and Visitor to the University to boldly and firmly address this issue to bring the much-needed stability to UniCross. The prolonged uncertainty is undermining the institution’s focus and progress.
This call became necessary as the constant uncertainty surrounding the leadership of the institution is not only stifling progress but significantly contributing to our institution’s decline, as evidenced in the latest ranking. As critical stakeholders, we’re very worried that our institution’s reputation hangs in the balance, with far-reaching consequences for students, staff, and alumni who hold the university certificates.
Considering the standard the Governor has set for himself as a ‘People’s First Leader’, it would be disappointing to see our institution continue to regress under his watch. With over fifteen months in office, we believe he has had enough time to complete his restructuring process for the University to move forward. We appeal to the Governor to extend the attention he is giving to other sectors to UniCrosss which is one of the most significant assets of the state.
The alumni also passionately appeals to all stakeholders and well meaning Cross Riverians to join us in advocating for a better future for our university. The Association remains committed to supporting the government and our dear institution to regain its place as one of the top ivory towers in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Inyali Peter, Ph.D
National President
UniCross Alumni
