By Elijah Ugani
Prof. Offiong E. Offiong was born in Calabar
on November 6, 1963. In 1974, and completed his Primary Education with a Distinction.
He then attended Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar, where he sat and passed with Division–One WASC (1979). Prof. Offiong holds a B.Sc (Hon) degree in Chemistry
(1984) from University of Calabar where he graduated with
Second Class ( Upper Division).
In 1990 he obtained his
Ph.D in Coordination/Inorganic Chemistry
from the same
department, University of Calabar, supported by DAAD in Germany with a scholarship to conduct laboratory bench work in Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany.
Prof Offiong also holds a Certificate in Equipment Maintenance (1991) from Bristol Polytechnic, Bristol, UK.
After his successful mandatory National Service (NYSC) in
the University of Ibadan, Prof Offiong started his lecturing career in 1985 as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Chemistry, University of Calabar and rose to the rank of Professor in Coordination/Inorganic Chemistry in 2002.
Offiong has successfully supervised 7 Masters and 13 Ph.D theses in the University. One of the PhD theses won the National Universities Commission’s Award of “Best Thesis in
Physical Sciences in Nigerian Universities in 2012”.
As a true scholar, he has been a mentor to many budding Academics especially in the field of Inorganic Chemistry. Many of his former Graduate Students are now Professors and others high ranking Academics in Nigerian Universities and abroad.
One of them is the current Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, University of Calabar.
Prof Offiong is an astute Academic/ Researcher with over 70 Research articles/publications in Peer-review journals
cited in high impact databases. He had been
Postgraduate/Undergraduate External Examiner in many Universities across the country including; UNIUYO, MOUA, BSU, UNIABUJA, UNN and presently in RSU.
He has also served the University system in several capacities
including; Sub-Dean , Faculty of Science, Dean Faculty of Science, Dean of Students’ Affairs, Member, Governing
Council of the University of Calabar (2000 – 2004), Member, UCISS Governing Borad, Member, Central Admission Committee, Member, Centre for Educational Services, Member, University of Calabar Reformation and Implementation Committee, Member, Committee in the development of School of Pharmacy, Unical.
Chairman and Zonal Coordinator ASUU, National Vice President ASUU among others.
A celebrated Academic whose spirit of assistance spans
through different human endeavours, Prof. Offiong also shared his passion and acumen in public service.
Between 2007 and 2015, he served as Commissioner for Education, Cross River State. During this period, the Schools across the
18 LGAs witnessed massive infrastructural transformation, the first of its kind. The performance of CRS Students in WASCE rose from 22nd position to 7th and 6th in 2012 and
2013 respectively.
His contributions to the establishment of
the prestigious Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep and the reopening of previously closed down
State-owned College of Education in Akamkpa speak volume to elucidate his sterling qualities and passion for education and scholarship.
He was the Chairman of All States Commissioner of Education in Nigeria from 2009 to 2015.
Prof. Offiong served in the Presidential Task Force on Education with the mandate of implementing a
transformation agenda in Nigeria education system (2011 – 2014).
His love for academic and human resource development knows no bounds; as a Commissioner, Prof. Offiong still rendered services free as an Academic by teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses and successfully supervised ten (10) Graduate theses during this period despite the fact that he was on Leave of Absence.
Prof. Offiong has won several international Fellowships/
Awards through which he visited many laboratories/
Institutions and Universities in Italy, France, Germany,
Russia, United States of America, United Kingdom, India, United Arab Emirates, Finland among others.
As part of his community and humanitarian services, he is the immediate Past President of the Boys Brigade Nigeria (BBN), CRS Council (2013 to 2019). He is currently the Chairman of Education committee in the Obong of Calabar.
Executive Forum. Prof. Offiong is married to his heart–throb Dr. (Mrs.) Ame l. Offiong; the marriage is blessed with three beautiful children; Efanga, Asa and Eme.
Prof. Offiong has clearly demonstrated profound and purposeful leadership as an administrator, academic and above all a role model for young people in his thirty-five years as a Lecturer.
He has also served the state in the following capacities;
Consultant/Resource person, CREPA/FEPA on World Bank sponsored Environmental Action Plan for CRS.
Consultant/Resource person to the Min. of Agric & Water Resources, CRS.
Member & (Chairman, Sub-Committee on staffing) local accreditation to CRUTECH.
Member, Education sub-committee, CRS transition committee.
Chairman, Education & Social services cluster, CRS, comprising 11 MADs.
Leader, CRS delegation on a study Tour to Educational Institutions in India.
Leader, CRS delegation o a 5-day learning journey to University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Member, CRS delegation on sister state relationship visit to the state of Maryland, USA.
Leader, CRS delegation on a Study Tour of Highbury College, Portsmouth, UK.
At the national level, Offiong also served as;
Associate Consultant in Environmental Chemistry to Shell Producing Nig Limited (West)
Consultant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) on Gas emission project.
Member, NUC committee on Development of Basic Minimum Academic Standards for post graduate programme in Nigerian Universities.
Member, Presidential Task Team on Education.
Member, Implementation on the Presidential Task Team report on Education.
Member, Fed Govt of Nigeria delegation to Highbury College, Portsmouth.
Member, Fed Govt of Nigeria delegation to the all Ministerial 2013 World Bank/International Monetary Fund Spring meeting with E-9 countries at Washington DC, USA.
With these experiences, he would make a good Vice Chancellor if entrusted with the responsibility.
He has been a Professor of inorganic/coordination Chemistry in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria for 18 years.
He is an accomplished academician, astute administrator, intrepid goal-getter and undaunted activist who shares the vision of the founding fathers of the University of Calabar.
Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong vision statement for the university in the coming five years is to transform it into a leading university in Nigeria and in the sub-Saharan region, in teaching, learning, research and community service. This he intends to accomplish through hard work, setting timelines, with continuous/rigorous evaluations for every task assigned to Staff and Students, to be backup with incentives as well as training and retraining of Staff.
Professor Offiong understands that to produce globally competitive and skilled graduates and make University of Calabar a “Center of Excellence”, a lot of things will have to be done differently.
He will attract grants and established functional linkages with other institutions in Nigeria and abroad.
Professor Offiong intends to put in place a sustainable plan to boost the internally generated revenue(IGR)
He will revolutionize the delivery and quality of Education/Services by expanding and integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
into all the services/ operations of the University.
As a former Union Leader , he will work to sustain industrial harmony and strive to enhance Staff/Students welfare, motivation and productivity.
Prof. Offiong E. Offiong is astute unionist of no mean repute. He has been consistently involved in the processes that led to the midwifing of both students unions during his undergraduate programme. As a student activist, he championed most of the students yearnings that relived the plight of students.
As a member of the Academic Staff Union of University, University of Calabar Branch ASSU-UCB, he was elected Vice Chairman at age 30 and was reelect for second term of four years following an excellent performance.
During which time, all the unions in the University collaborated and midwived the University of Calabar International Secondary School.
Prof. Offiong E. Offiong was elected Chairman, Academic Staff Union of University, University of Calabar Branch ASUU-UCB, in the year 2000 and was reelected in 2002 to serve another term of two years. During this period, ASUU-UCB made very positive impacts in the management of the university and in resolving all Labour related crisis.
The distinguished Prof. Offiong E. Offiong also served as JAC Chairman, comprising of (ASUU, SSANU & NASU), University of Calabar branch. During his tenure as Chairman, he established a welfare scheme for the branch to carter for members welfare needs such as weddings, child dedication and bereavement etc.
During this period, he introduced “computer loan scheme” which afforded members own their personal computers and became computer literate.
Prof. Offiong negotiated and signed the second Centre for Educational Services CES Agreement of the university and got all the entitlements owed members including handsome allowances for Lecturers involved in Consultancy Services/Part-Time lecturing.
As Chairman of ASSU-UCB, he was also the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Calabar Zone, comprising of UNICAL, UNIUYO, IMSU, FUTO, UNIPORT and RSUSzt and as well NDU and CRUTECH where he midwived their charters into ASUU.
Prof. Offiong E. Offiong is the first Cross Riverian to be elected National Vice-President of ASUU. At which time he organized the first leadership training workshop for Chairman and Secretary of branches in ASUU.
Juxtaposing Prof. Offiong E. Offiong experience in the formation and service in the various unions he served previously, he very equipped with the technical, influential, managerial and developmental skills and prowess to reposition staff welfare and create job satisfaction as Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar.
In line with the new direction in Universities world wide to be ‘Visible and globally Competitive’. Professor Offiong will strengthen the capacity of Academic Staff to have more publications in high impact journals cited in Scopus/Scimago, Thompson Reuters etc. abstract and citation database. As an exemplary academic leader, he is on the Scopus abstract and citation database, where the world university rankings are hinged on, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong has contributed 35 publications, 1017 citations and an H-index of 17. Surely, as Vice-Chancellor he would know how to create the enabling environment for many young/upcoming scholars to strive and surpassed this.
He will be focused also in improving the ranking of the University of Calabar through facilitating local and international conference attendance.
He will consolidate on the achievements/efforts of the past administration of the University towards the expansion of new faculties/Centres and infrastructural development. New centres of excellence where the University has a competitive advantage will be established.
Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong has traversed the ranks of public administration and is therefore no administrative neophyte. He has been Dean of Students’ Affairs, where he is been exposed to all the intrigues of students. He is a one-time dean of one of the largest faculties in the university; now splits into the present faculties of Physical and Biological Sciences. He was a member of the Governing Council of Unical and Commissioner for Education for 8 years.
As Commissioner for Education, the schools in the 18 local government area of the state witnessed massive infrastructural transformation, first of its kind. The performance of students in WASCE rose from 22nd position to 7th and 6th in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
He also midwived the establishment of the prestigious Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep and the reopening of previously shutdown State-owned College of Education (COE), Akamkpa.
He intends to institutionalize Effective management and governance in the University of Calabar.
If given the chance to become the 11th Vice Chancellor of the university of Calabar, he promises to work hard to reposition academics, administration and consultancy in the university of Calabar.
The above vision and mission statements are achievable because Prof. Offiong E. Offiong has the credentials, his experience, strength of character, good health, fear of God and a clear idea of what it will take to transform the University of Calabar, his Alma Mater. He is endowed with influential, managerial and developmental prowess to change the narratives of leadership in the University of Calabar.
