Category: Education

  • Liberian University Seeks Partnership With UNICAL In Research, Exchange Programmes

    Liberian University Seeks Partnership With UNICAL In Research, Exchange Programmes

     

    African Methodist Episcopal University (AME), a Liberian institution is seeking partnership with the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in the area of research, students and staff exchange programmes.

    The proposed partnership was brought to the fore when the Vice-Chancellor of AME, Dr Alvin Attah, paid a working visit to UNICAL Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi in Calabar.

    Dr Attah, who is an alumnus of UNICAL, said that the need to give back to his alma mater informed his decision to pay a visit to UNICAL.

    The AME vice chancellor, who said he would continue to be a good ambassador of UNICAL, expressed optimism that the partnership would expand the frontiers of knowledge.

    “I am here to see how well we can collaborate in some common areas like staff and students exchange and research.

    “We have issues in Africa and unless we find solutions within ourselves to solve them, nobody will do it for us.

    “We have common traditions, common cultural values and we all need each other to see how we can move forward.

    “As a malabite, it is a good thing for me to come and visit where I was trained,” he said.

    According to him, AME is also partnering with other universities in Africa, and maintained that UNICAL being a reputable tertiary institution have been chosen among many others.

    Responding, the vice-chancellor of UNICAL, Obi said she was pleased that an alumnus of UNICAL was at the helm in a Liberian university.

    Obi, who said she was proud of the AME vice chancellor, said “you have done so well, we congratulate you as a malabite, once a malabite, always a malabite’’.

    She called on the AME vice chancellor to always make his alma mater proud by projecting the image of the institution.

    Prof. Obi told the AME vice chancellor that having risen to the position of a vice-chancellor in Liberia, it shows that UNICAL churns-out quality individuals who have been found worthy in character and learning.

    She commended the AME boss for deeming it fit to involve UNICAL in his quest for African collaboration and partnership.

    Obi said that it was easier for Africa to partner with itself rather than looking outward all the time.

    “UNICAL is ready for the partnership and modalities will be put in place by the institution’s Directorate of External Relations and Partnership to cement the relationship between both universities,” she said.

  • UNICAL VC Commends Sen Jarigbe Agom Interest In The Development Of UNICAL

    UNICAL VC Commends Sen Jarigbe Agom Interest In The Development Of UNICAL

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has commended the Senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District for his interest in the development of his alma mater, the University of Calabar.

    Prof. Obi who made the commendation when she led some officials of the Institution on a courtesy visit to the Parliamentarian, lauded him for what, according to her, he has done and is planning to do for the university.

    The Vice Chancellor further said, as head of the university’s administration, she is doing all within her powers to reposition the Institution, and return it back to her lost glory.

    In his remarks, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe thanked the Vice Chancellor and her entourage for honouring him with the visit.

    Sen. Jarigbe, an alumnus of the University of Calabar, said he has every reason to think about the progress of the University which is his alma mater. The Senator used the opportunity to thank the Vice-Chancellor for all her efforts geared towards rebranding the institution.

    The Distinguished Senator informed his guests that, he has been in touch with the Head, Department of Chemistry, assuring the Vice Chancellor that something positive will come out of the 2022 appropriation that will be of benefit to the Institution.

  • Former President Goodluck Jonathan To Grace UNICAL’s 35th Convocation

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan To Grace UNICAL’s 35th Convocation

     

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has paid a courtesy call on the immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR.

    Speaking during the visit, Prof. Obi recalled the roles played by the former president in uplifting the standard of education across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    She described GEJ as a humble gentleman who places Nigeria above any other personal consideration, referring to him as a unifying factor in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.

    The Vice-Chancellor reminded the former President that Nigerians will not forget the epochal call he put across to his successor, President Buhari, which accounted for the relative peace and brotherhood that the nation is enjoying today.

    To this end, the VC said the Governing Council, Senate, and Management have found in him a man worthy in all ramifications for the award of an Honorary Doctorate Degree – (Honoris Causa) of the Institution.

    In his remark, Jonathan expressed appreciation to the Council, Senate, and Management of the University of Calabar for finding him worthy of the honour even after his tenure as president.

    He said that though he had cause to turn down so many similar offers, but because of his love for the institution, he has no option but to graciously accept the offer from the University of Calabar with all amount of humility.

    The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied on the eventful visit by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita, and the Registrar, Amb. Jammy Egbe.

    Others include two members of the University Governing Council, Hon. Vincent Ogbuagu and Prof. (Mrs) Eno Grace Nta, as well as, the University’s Alumni Relations Officer, Dr Dorn Cklaimz Enamhe.

  • Dr Richard Utubakwu Appointed Provost Federal College Of Education, Obudu

    Dr Richard Utubakwu Appointed Provost Federal College Of Education, Obudu

    FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
    P.M. B 1038
    OBUDU
    CROSS RIVER STATE
    March 3, 2022

    DR. UTUBAKU’S APPOINTMENT AS PROVOST
    President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) has approved the appointment of Dr. Richard Ugbaha Utubaku as the new Provost of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, for a first term of four years, as conveyed by the Honourable Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu.

    The appointment is consequent upon competitive interview conducted for eighteen (18) applicants for the position among the thirty-five (35) that applied for the job in November, 2021.

    The Chairman Governing Council of the College Prof. Taoheed Adedoja on behalf of Council members has congratulated the new provost and looks forward to his visionary leadership of the College that was established since 1982.

    The Chairman had earlier sent similar congratulations to the new Bursar of the College Mr. Joseph Eba Ogar.

    The newly appointed Provost Dr. Richard Utubaku began his educational career in Roman Catholic Mission(RCM) Primary School Bebuabie, Obudu where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate(FSLC) in 1979. Thereafter he was at Comprehensive Secondary School, Obudu between 1979 and 1985 where he passed the WAEC Examination in flying colours.

    He was at the Federal College of Education, Obudu where he was certified a teacher with the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1990 and then proceeded to the University of Calabar where he obtained a 2nd Class Upper Degree in Education Mathematics in 1992. As a true Nigerian, he served his NYSC at the Government Secondary School Wushishi in Niger State where he was the Corp Liason Officer.

    Dr. Utubaku returned to his Alma Mater, the University of Calabar for an M.Ed in Mathematics Education. At the University of Agriculture, Makurdi he crowned his Academic pursuit with a Ph.D in Mathematics Education in 2015.

    In 1993, the young Richard Utubaku got his first appointment as an Assistant Lecturer in the Mathematics Department of Federal College of Education, Obudu where he rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Lecturer in 2013, having served variously as HOD, Dean, Director and Chairman of several Committees.

    Dr. Richard Utubaku has to his credit several Conference papers, Journal articles Books and Book Chapters and has some textbooks to his credit.

    Dr. Richard Ugbaha Utubaku is the 1st Alumnus to become a Provost in almost 40 years of the College’s existence and hopes to reposition the College in line with its vision of enhancing academic and professional excellence in teacher education for Sustainable National Development.

    Dr. Utubaku is happily married and blessed with five (5) children.

  • Let’s Join Hands And Digitised UNICAL, VC Tells Committee Of Deans, Directors

    Let’s Join Hands And Digitised UNICAL, VC Tells Committee Of Deans, Directors

     

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi, has called on leaders of the University to think and work towards a total digitisation of the university in compliance with technological age.

    The Vice-Chancellor made the call at an interactive meeting with Deans and Directors held at the Council Chamber of the University.

    Prof. Obi said by their position as leaders, they must make things work and liken their roles to that of a commander in military circles.

    She said that with a strategic plan document in place, it is the role of the Deans to guide departments to evolve a workable plan of their own based on the institutional strategic plan.

    She drew the attention of the Deans and Directors to some pivotal key areas in the plan that are critical to the growth and noted that if Management made up of the current assemblage of leaders can achieve 50% of the plan content, then it will be difficult to circumvent its sustained progress.

    She called on the foremost faculty leaders to embrace provisions in the plan that entailed making adequate provision for teaching and learning, mentorship, improved ranking and smart campus.

    On Smart Campus, the VC disclosed that an official statement via circular will soon be issued legalizing online teaching and E-Learning Policy, as she pledged complete digitalization of the University before the end of the year.

    She informed that the convocation of the University billed for the last week in March this year will be unique, adding that the Emir of Kano will be formally installed as the Chancellor and the research fair will assume a bigger status in the proposed one-week event.

    The Vice-Chancellor promised to sustain the tempo of inaugural lectures, attend to outstanding sitting allowances requests, address complaints related to payment of Honorarium in Postgraduate School as well as entitlements of external examiners and external assessors.

    For the Assessment for 2021 promotions, Prof. Obi said all papers will have to go through the Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT) who will handle the repository concerns before submission to the Appointments and Promotion Committee, adding that a memo will be issued to that effect.

    In an earlier address, the Chairman of the Committee of Deans Prof Idongesit Akpabio, commended the Vice-Chancellor for her encouragement and friendly disposition to the committee.

    Prof. Akpabio rolled out the committee’s achievements in the sustained conduct of inaugural lectures, obtaining approval of study leave with pay for 60 staff, securing approval for most academic programmes in the Senate and payment of sitting allowances.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita, in a remark, observed that some carryover courses have not been uploaded and appeal to Deans to work with Heads of Departments to close the gaps as the date for the closure of the portal draws near.

  • Full Text Of Address By Rev Fr Emma Eroh At The University Of Calabar 2022 Solemn Assembly

    Full Text Of Address By Rev Fr Emma Eroh At The University Of Calabar 2022 Solemn Assembly

    UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR, SOLEMN ASSEMBLY HELD ON THE 17TH OF JANUARY 2021.
    THEME: HEAL OUR LAND O LORD 2CHR 7:14
    MINISTER: REV. FR. EMMA EROH

    DEPARTURE:
    I must commend the VC of Unical and her team for trusting and having faith in the power and place of prayers in transforming Unical. It is a noble venture to put a pause to the entire school activities in order to seek the face of God to heal us, our land and bless us. It is my prayers that your reign shall leave indelible Mark’s on the sands of Unical and restore the perforated glory of Unical and stem the trouble in our land in Jesus name Amen. Indeed with God all things are possible Mk 10:27.

    SOLEMN ASSEMBLY
    The bible records myriads of instances where the entire community or nation resorted to prayers either to avert calamity or seek for God’s mercy and healing . In Deut 16: 8 the Lord commanded for a solemn assembly of prayers and impacting God’s blessings on his people. Lev. 23:36 emphasised restraint from work as a critical aspect of a solemn assembly inorder that the significance of the day may impact the people.
    In 2Chron 7:9 solemn assembly preceded the dedication of Solomon’s famous temple in Isreal, where the Lord promised ” to hear their cry and heal the land” 2Chron 7:13- 18. Healing is therefore pivotal and central to the life of a child of God.
    Similarly, King Jehu called a solemn assembly of all the prophets of Baal and exterminated them all and freed Isreal from idol worshipping and charms cf 2kgs 10:18-25. This solemn assembly is not to kill perpetrators of evils, those having a romance with charms and juju men, those using evil powers to influence authorities in their favours etc. No, the target is rather to bring God’s mercy, repentance, blessings and healing on our school via a change of attitude or conversion.
    Prophet Joel in Chap 14:2 called an assembly for prayers inorder to avoid impending doom and anarchy, this is why this conglomeration of various minds and hearts is not only pertinent but crucial, to save our community from doom and bless our Land.

    WHAT IS A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.
    Solemn assembly is a time for conversion that comes from the heart. It is a moment of casting back your mind to where you have failed and asking for a change of heart.
    In our lead text 2Chro 7: 14 – 18, the Lord stated unequivocally,
    IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, HUMBLE THEMSELVES, PRAY, SEEK MY FACE, TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.

    The Lord knows that some of us have abandoned the path of righteousness and humility and are wearing the unenviable toga of pride. We invent our own roles and circumvent laid down principles for success. We have become demi gods that should be worshipped because of the positions God gave us. We have even become untouchable and when we are no longer relevant in that aspect. We have over bloated ego and look down on others. The Lords demands humility as a prerequisite for healing. In Mark 2:1-12, Before the Lord healed the paralytic man he first forgave his sins. This means that sin is an obstacle to God’s healing mercies. The sin of pride can suffocate God’s healing power. Lev 26 :4 humble yourself so that the Lord will bless you. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. James 4:6-10. In humility count others as better than yourself. Phil 2:3-8, Clothe yourself in humility. Col.3 12-13. God’s divine purpose is to forgive you and heal not only you but your land.

    PRAYERS: Prayers is a vital link with God that can never be over emphasised. Prayer is the key that opens all doors. It is the most powerful weapon on earth, it surmounts that seemingly insurmountable issue; sickness, marital problems, addictions, family scores etc. There’s power in prayers. We can make very little progress without prayers. It is prayers that will catapult us to where we ought to be and rain down God’s blessings of healing and fruitness on us all. We cannot stand up in prayers with grievances against one another and expect God to answer us. That’s why the next stage is pertinent.

    SEEK GOD’S FACE.
    Seeking God’s face entails total commitment in the things of God and abhorrence of worldliness. It is turning away from carnality and the pleasures of the world and submerging yourself into the ocean of God’s mercy that provokes healing. He invites you “come to me all who are over burdened and heavy ladened, and l will give you rest. Matt 11:28. Some of you are labouring under a heavy burden and life is now consistent pain and emptiness devoid of happiness. God’s healing power shall bring RESTORATION. Seek the Lord and you will find him Lk 11:9-10. When you seek me you will find me. Jer 29:13. Those who seek the Lord shall be blessed Ps 69:32. Again, Ps 34:4-5 states ” there shall be deliverance and removal of shame for those who seek the Lord. And the Lord shall save them. Beloved in Christ, this is the time to seek the Lord and activate his power of healing.

    TURN FROM WICKED WAYS. Heb. 6:1.
    Wickedness in the land attracts God’s punishment on his people, but turning away from wickedness brings forgiveness and healing. This Solemn Assembly is a call for repentance, healing and invoking God’s blessings and His ineffable graces on His children. There are aspects of our lives that we need to turn away from.

    AREAS FOR HEALING
    It is essential as those in the academia and adminstration to exhume our consciences which we interred long ago .
    In an academic environment like this, they are some who live a life of debauchery ( like the prodigal son), dissoluteness, turpitude, depravity,loudness, rakishness,perversion, libertinism, immodesty, indecency, impropriety, immorality and lasciviousness cf 1Cor 6:9-11, Gal 5:19-21, Rev 22:15, like the prodigal son, there is absolute need to beat their comatose consciences back to life. We need the healing rays of God to shine through our lives and make us new.

    STUDENTS – SOLEMN TARGETS
    Let me begin the process of disentombment of consciences with students. Your main target here is to excel in academic and MORALS or character and learning, you need solemn focus to fulfill your dreams and face the challenges of the modern world, so why distract yourselves, you need God’s healing mercy on some of your life styles like
    – parties and clubbing
    -cultism
    -fashion
    -immorality
    – cohabitation
    – ambassador of nudity
    -prostitution etc
    You need a solemn focus, and l am convinced you can make it. Some of you have incurred alot of sicknesses because of your lifestyle. God shall completely heal and deliver you in Jesus name Amen. Listen to God speaking to you.

    LECTURERS: SOLEMN CONSCIENCES.
    1. Lecturers who are not committed to their duties need healing.
    2. Those who frustrate students need God’s mercy
    3. Those who lack self control and shamefully romance with their students need healing.
    Hope you realize that you have female children too. Whatever a man sows, that shall he reap. Gal 6:7-8.
    5. Some extort poor students thereby pushing them into different vices.
    6. I heard some fraternise native doctors for charms and amulets. All to gain favour.
    7. Some deliberately scheme to out smart their colleagues and engage in ” pull him/her down syndrome ”
    8. Tribalism and nepotism is said to be a stumbling block to academic excellence. The bile and bitterness in our system need to be healed for absolute blessings from God.
    Hear What the Lord said.
    Eph 14: 19 pursue peace and what makes for mutual up building.
    1Theas 4:18 encourage one another with helpful words.
    Eph 4:13 Eschew all kinds of bitterness wrath, anger, malice, slander etc

    ADMINSTRATIVE STAFF
    – SOLEMN ACCOUNTABILITY.
    The Administrative staff are the engine room and drivers of the University system. It is inundated and saturated with recklessness, sloth, envy, scheming,, we need the healing mercy of God inorder to prosper. You have to be committed to your task and be transparent about it knowing that it is Lord whom you are serving.
    Be truthful in all your dealings. We need God’s healing mercy in the areas of insincerity, eye service, condoling evil, setting each other up etc. Let us ask for God’s mercy and healing.

    PROFESSORS- SOLEMN MENTORSHIP.
    Professors are revered, erudite, cultivated, collegiate, cerebral, cultured, refined, polished, primed and apprized intelligentsia.
    My worry is that we are not getting solemn mentorship emanating from your desk. The anger and bitterness you cast into the system, does not befit the trajectory of your meteoric but painstaking rise to the apex of your career. You need to collaborate with the VC to give her best to the school. We too need divine healing and mercy.

    VC – Solemn Leadership.
    Even in the University system, they are politicians who daily gravitate around the orbit of power. The churn out stories putting the VC at loggerheads with imaginary enemies. The VC should be mindful of this ” tick skinned men and women”, who feel that it is our turn to eat. Keep them far away from you. You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free Jn 8:32.
    Prov 29:2 When the righteous are in power the people rejoice but when the wicked rule, the people mourn.
    Madam VC
    Be firm but courteous
    Be strong but modest
    Be gentle but wise
    Be focused but consultative
    Be an Amazon, but battles are won with a coterie of wise men/ women.
    Be powerful but remember power is ephemeral. We are yesterday’s children.
    In an academic environment like this, they are some who live a life of debauchery ( like the prodigal son), dissoluteness, turpitude, depravity,loudness, rakishness, perversion, libertinism, immodesty, indecency, impropriety, immorality and lasciviousness cf 1Cor 6:9-11, Gal 5:19-21, Rev 22:15, like the prodigal.son, there is absolute need to beat their comatose consciences back to life. This is the focus now.

    EFFECTS OF GOD’S HEALING
    There are myriads of blessings that we will enjoy as effects of God’s healing of our Land
    – Divine favours and promotions.
    – Grooming a future generation that we will be proud of.
    – improved standard of education
    -integrity in our system
    – Divine prosperity and upliftment
    – spirit of contentment
    – witnessing to God by our lifestyle
    – physical healing of our ailments.
    – Blessing on our children to make us proud etc.

    CONCLUSION
    When the prodigal son in Luke 15 :17 realized he had been on the wrong path, he made a  u-turn and headed back home to repair the damage he had done in order to activate God’s healing. He received more than he ever bargained for – royal welcome in an atmosphere of abundance.
    2Chr 7 : 14 This is a call for national or corporate repentance. If we have dishonoured God’s name by our deeds, we must accept the punishment for our sin( every sin has its wages)
    1. You must humble yourself
    2. Pray for the removal of judgement due to sin
    3. Seek God’s face
    4. Renounce you sin and turn from evil ways.
    This will provoke communal mercy;
    -Forgiveness of Sins
    -Conversion
    -Healing of the Land.

    It is our turn now to renounce our sins humbly and activate God’s healing of our land and RESTORATION of then glory of our UNICAL. Let God’s will and reign be established in our school in Jesus name Amen.
    -BLESSINGS
    The Lord Shall promote you in Jesus name
    The Lord shall heal you in Jesus name
    The Lords mercy shall locate you in Jesus name.
    Your dreams shall be fulfilled in Jesus name,
    Evil hands and eyes shall not see you in Jesus Name,
    UNICAL shall be great again in Jesus name,
    God’s hand shall be upon you in Jesus name,
    Your families shall be blessed in Jesus name,
    Your offices shall be blessed
    Our Land shall be blessed in Jesus name.

  • UNICAL Holds Solemm Assembly, Dedicates Academic Session To God

    UNICAL Holds Solemm Assembly, Dedicates Academic Session To God

     

    The University of Calabar has held the 2022 Solemn Assembly organised to dedicate the academic session into the hands of God.

    Speaking at the event that attracted academic and non academic staff, clergymen and students, the Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, said that the Assembly was organised by the management of the institution to hand over the proceedings of the academic year to God Almighty.

    She said that it was important to start the academic session with God in view of the many challenges that abounds in all sectors of human endeavours.

    The VC, who solicited the support of staff and students of the institution for her administration, urged them to join hands with her in moving the institution forward.

  • UNICAL Management Announces Shift In Examination Date

    UNICAL Management Announces Shift In Examination Date

     

    The Management of the University of Calabar has announced a new date for the commencement of examination as well as closure of the school charges payment and course registration portals.

    Examination will now commence from Wednesday 19th of January, 2022 and the Fee and Course Registration Portals will be closed on midnight of Saturday 15th January, 2022.

    A release issued by the University Management and made available to the Public Relations Unit has accordingly called on students to ensure that payment of School Charges and relevant dues are observed before the portals are closed

    The release which stated that students must register courses before exams, added that registration is per course. Examination attendance list will be generated only for the students who have duly registered their courses.

    The release further reminded students that registration is done essentially online using the link http://unicalexams.edu.ng/login and not with lecturers or by cash payment as online registration of courses offered by the students is FREE.
    Students are advised for their own interest to make good use of the magnanimity of extension by the administration arising from the plea of the President of SUG to complete the registration of their courses.
    The release equally directed that Heads of Departments and Course Coordinators should upload all outstanding results of students to enable them register or risk being sanctioned.

    According to the release, students who fail to meet the deadline for registration will have to defer their admission for the session.

     

     

    PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT.

  • UNICAL Inducts 63 New Doctors

    UNICAL Inducts 63 New Doctors

     

    No fewer than 63 newly inducted doctors of the University of Calabar have been told to prioritize the health needs of patients if they must excel in the medical profession.

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, who stated this during the 52nd Physicians’ Oath Taking Ceremony (Sponsio Academica) charged the inductees to always place the well-being of their patients on the front burner.

    While congratulating the inductees for scaling the hurdles in the course of their training, she urged them to adhere strictly to the ethics of the medical profession and imbibe the spirit of excellence and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.

    The VC, who described the college as the flagship of the institution, said: “I am proud of the products from the college because they have been making great exploits all over the world.

    ‘’I am happy to be part of your success stories and I urge you all to be good ambassadors of the institution’’.

    This came has she reiterated her administration’s commitment towards partnering with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) towards achieving a common goal, especially in the continuous training and retraining of doctors.

    She also thanked the inductees’ parents for the sacrifices and commitments in the course of training their children, and prayed God to grant them long life to enable them enjoy the fruits of their labour.

    “I congratulate you all for the great achievement; another journey has begun in your life.

    “You have chosen a profession that is employable and I want to urge you to be good ambassadors of your alma mater. Bring your experience to bear in your profession and imbibe the spirit of excellence and team work,” she said.

    In his remarks, Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. Victor Ansa, said that the induction was the beginning of the Physician’s journey into the real world, thereby urging them to display the skills they have acquired from the institution for the good of humanity.

    Describing the medical profession as a ‘noble profession’ he charged the inductees to live above board in every area of their endeavors.

    He said their practice must be patient-centered, with palpable competence, efficiency, honesty, diligence and transparency.

    The Provost said that 10 automatic internship employment would be given to ‘deserving doctors’ who are willing to serve in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

    Also speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Prof. Ngim Ngim, said that what the inductees were witnessing was a direct product of their devotion and commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

    He said the knowledge, skills and ethics they have imbibed over several years of training will see them through their career as doctors, even as he admonished them to reflect and ponder on the Physicians’ oath and abide by it.

    In the same vein, Cross River State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Innocent Abang, who welcomed the graduands into the association, urged them to unlock their God-given potentials in the course of practicing their profession.

    Speaking shortly after administering oath on the graduands, the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, advised the inductees to remain hardworking, focused, assiduous and ever ready to acquire as much knowledge and skills as possible during the period of their internship and the initial years of practice.

    The Registrar cautioned the graduands against unethical practices even as he urged them to ensure annual renewal of their license to practice.

    “The induction is the beginning of your journey as a doctors and you must practice this profession with humility. Respect your teachers and elders so that you can grow in the profession,” he said.

    The induction lecturer, Prof. Michael Ogirima, who spoke on the topic, ‘’Doctor, Attend to your Health’’ called on the doctors to attend to their own health and well-being in order to provide care of the highest standard.

    On his part, the Best Graduating Student, Dr Emediong Saturday Etuk, who spoke on behalf of other inductees, thanked the University Management for providing a conducive learning environment for them, which he believed, contributed to their success.

    He also thanked staff and lecturers in the Medical College for their enormous support and encouragement.

    Highpoint of the occasion was the award of prizes to deserving graduands and presentation of memento to the induction lecturer by the Vice Chancellor.

  • In Akwa Ibom, Free Education Comes At A Grave Cost BY AGBA JALINGO AND JONATHAN UGBAL

    In Akwa Ibom, Free Education Comes At A Grave Cost BY AGBA JALINGO AND JONATHAN UGBAL

    Ahead of the yet-to-be announced resumption date for public primary and secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State, discordant tune trail the more than a decade old free and compulsory education directive of the State announced by the Godswill Akpabio’s administration.

    CrossRiverWatch visited the State’s capital city, Uyo and its environs to get the pulse of the people and all may not be well as parents, teachers and experts differ in opinion on what impact the policy has had on the the education sector since it went into force in the 2008/2009 academic sessions.

    Common Knowledge…

    “Uncommon Transformation” may have been a popular phrase with Mr. Akpabio as Governor, but, the directive of free education is common knowledge.

    “I no gree finish school o, na waste of time abeg,” said a tall, dark lanky fellow with brownish teeth and sunken eyes at the Ibom plaza, who wondered whether one of these reporters was a policeman inquiring whether he heard about the free education policy of the State. He was loading mini buses ferrying passengers to Abak road and kept screaming that after Secretariat junction was no longer 50 Naira.

    “The people wey dey government, how many of dem go school? No be di one wey dey Abuja dem tok say him no go school,” the fellow said in apparent reference to Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari who is widely perceived in southern Nigeria to not have a certificate despite the Nigerian constitution outlining that the minimum to run for President is a First School Leaving Certificate or “it’s equivalent.”

    “Yes, I am aware, and we have not been paying fees,” Itorobong Ibangha, a petty trader opposite the Primary School at Use Offot, along Nwaniba road said.

    No Free Lunch – An Intervention, Not Extortion…

    Despite teachers and parents acknowledging that education was free, pupils and students still pay sums ranging from NGN500 per term to over NGN6,000, this findings revealed.

    These sums were for different reasons ranging from “intervention,” to uniforms and foolscap sheets for examinations among others.

    For instance, at the Government Technical School, Ewet in Uyo Local Government Area and the Government Primary School Afaha Ube, Itam in Itu Local Government Area, students and pupils pay NGN500 every term for what parents said was “intervention fee.”

    The same was for the Primary School along Oron road, the one at Use Offot and the Government Secondary School at Urruan Local Government Area.

    At, Uyo High School, the cost is higher.

    “We pay for uniform. They will give you belt, give you socks, and uniform,” Mrs. Akai (surname withheld for editorial reasons) whose grandchildren attend the school said. She spoke in pidgin most of the time and is contemplating the withdrawal of the children to another school due to the costs and issues of gangsterism.

    According to her, “We pay NGN6,100 for uniform because it is branded. For the girls, it is NGN6,500. You buy foolscap sheets for examinations and often end up buying locker (desks) for them too and that is about NGN6,000 too. At the end, you still register WAEC (West African Examinations Council) and NECO (National Examinations Council) too.”

    Despite all these, she insisted that education was free as they were not paying school fees.

    Also, for Ntiense, a store owner, so long as it was not called school fees, it is not school fees.

    All respondents say they were not issued any receipts when payments were made with the teachers responsible often writing down names in books to identify who had paid or was yet to – a scenario that could give room for corrupt practices.

    Free Tuition, Not Education…

    But, not all agree that there is free and compulsory education in the State.

    Inibehe Effiong, a legal practitioner who attended public schools in Akwa Ibom State says there is nothing like free and compulsory education in the State.

    “The problem I have is that you keep saying free education. There is nothing like free and compulsory education in Akwa Ibom State. My assessment is that the best way to describe the policy is that, it is a free tuition policy,” Effiong said.

    He insisted that there was no free and compulsory education and queried why parents and guardians will have to pay anything at all if there.

    “As long as the Government does not do the needful, there is nothing like free and compulsory education. Unless, you want to tell me that all there is to education is tuition then if you have free tuition you have free education. But, education is not only about tuition and journalists will have to learn that and say it as it is,” he added.

    Tijah Bolton-Akpan, the Executive Director of Policy Alert, a civil society organization agrees with Mr. Effiong.

    “At best what we have is a free tuition policy as there is no actual policy document guiding implementation. Yes, the State has a Universal Basic Education Boards which is in line with the Universal Basic Education policy at the national level. But, there was and there has been no document to guide the implementation. The only thing that comes close to that is the Child Rights Law which has provisions prohibiting children being out of school or children of school age being out of school.”

    He averred that the State was not sincere in its approach to ensuring public education was really free and efficient as the budget implementation report indicted the State on this.

    His position was echoed by the former Chairman of the State’s wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade Etim Ukpong who in December 2019 claimed that the State had not paid the subvention for five terms which meant at least three academic sessions (2017/2018, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020) were affected.

    Teachers Keep Mum…

    During a recent visit to the schools, teachers kept mum and kept referring questions to the ministry of education.

    At some point, one of the reporters visited the Government Technical, Ewet and Uyo High with people posing as admission seekers to get more details.

    At Uyo High, a man at the entrance said students were writing examinations and so only external invigilators were allowed in the school as no staff of the school was around despite taking a call and informing the person that the principal “dey for office.”

    At Government Technical, the Vice Principal, Emmanuel Akpan, declined an interview and when pressed further for more information, said: “I believe the Principals and head teachers are meeting the Permanent Secretary to know what we are to do as we are opening for a new session.”

    But, A Curtailed Outburst…

    However, A female Teacher who pleaded anonymity but agreed to be recorded, averred that; “One may not agree that there is free education which I understand because students still buy lockers, they are still made to pay for different things like examination sheets, intervention among others.”

    The teacher questioned what extortion actually meant as the hands of teachers and school administrators were tied.

    “What exactly is extortion? So, I ask a child to buy textbook as a literature teacher or pay so we can get from Aba (a commercial city in neighboring Abia State) and that is me extorting the child. Why? Because Government has not provided that. How do I teach physics or mathematics without practice books?

    “Every now and then, you will see on AKBC (Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation) that they have donated 100 lockers or books and it is not enough. For instance, in my school, they brought a few dozen desks for a school with a population of about 1,500! What you then get is that there are fewer facilities to handle the students which gives rise to the gangs and trouble you see in schools that is now called cultism,” the teacher said.

    In a similar note, Ukpong, in that interview had posited that, “when you go to town blaming teachers for collecting this and that, have you also forgotten that you have not addressed those fundamental areas?”

    Bolton-Akpan explained the concept behind the intervention which was supposed to be paid by government but has now been transferred to the pupils.

    “During the (Governor) Akpabio’s administration, physical investments was there and there was also subvention which was NGN100 for primary school (pupils) and NGN300 for secondary school (students). This was a budgetary provision to support the free and compulsory education program so that parents will have to pay anymore.

    “The money was supposed to be used to cover expenses by the school. But, over the years there has been corruption over how these monies were budgeted and spent,” he explained.

    But, the payments, as earlier stated, was stopped and it was agreed that students should pay NGN500 to aid the school’s management.

    Different Layer’s…

    But, even when these monies were paid consistently, Bolton-Akpan says there was some layers of corruption.

    “The first was that despite been budgeted, the State was not releasing these sums with no explanation what it was used for. The second is that the teachers collected these sums and did not apply it the way they should be as the embezzled such and the third layer is that heads of schools inflated enrollment figures in registers to collect more monies from the government,” he said.

    When asked if these could be verified, he said that one could easily walk into any school and compare the figures of students in the registers with those that attend
    classes as well as write exams.

    This could not be achieved and these reporters relied on data available in the public domain.

    For example, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, the number of people who completed secondary school in 2016 in public schools was 46,886. These set were admitted in the 2010/2011 session with data from the State Secondary Education Board showing that 321,123 people were admitted into different classes with 61,880 admitted into JSS1 which means at least 14,994 who were admitted into JSS1 did not sit for the SSCE.

    In 2017, the figure of those who finished public secondary schools dropped by over 21,000 to 25,838. Meanwhile, 64,707 were admitted into JSS 1 out of the 341,809 enrolled in the 2012/2013 session. The admission was almost 3,000 more than that of the previous session but the difference in those who sat for SSCE in the 2016/2017 session and those who were admitted rose to almost 39,000.

    However, this did not prove entirely, Bolton-Akpan’s claim.

    Uncommon Perimeters, Common Inside…

    Following concerns raised by an investigative series published by Premium Times, the Akwa Ibom State government organized an education summit in 2019 where the decision to erect perimeter fences for public schools was made among other resolutions.

    “There is this inter ministerial direct labour projects that cuts across different ministries of government and part of the resolution was that it should be focused on education and like you said, you have seen the perimeter fencing among other things. So, there has been an improvement from what it was when we published that story,” Cletus Ukpong, the regional editor, South South and South East for Premium Times who undertook the investigation said.

    He, however said that while the physical structures like perimeter fences was an improvement given the security situation in the country, one could not state exactly whether the soft infrastructure such as “the libraries, classrooms and laboratories were in order.”

    And, Bolton-Akpan, reiterated this. “How much investments has government done? The position of the civil societies and the citizens is that government’s investment should be commensurate to the verbal pronouncement. What we have seen in the past years has been continuous decline in capital investments in the education sector.”

    According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics enrollment data for 2017, there are 250 public schools which was a slight improvement from the 241 recorded in 2016. But, there was about 400 percent hike for private schools which moved from 87 in 2016 to 488 in 2017.

    And, Mr. Effiong said this was a deliberate attempt by public office holders and their cronies to frustrate the public education system. This, according to him was evident in the fact that many private schools were owned by family members of past and current public office holders.

    Also, while the perimeter fences in many schools visited were aesthetic, the structures inside were failing with many schools having fewer facilities than the number of students, real or bloated.

    The former NUT Chairman, lend credence to these during his earlier stated interview.

    “The free education came in and all the persons who did not have the hope of going to school are now in schools and most of them don’t have direct sponsors, not in terms of school fees anymore. But, who buys uniforms? As basic as that. Who buys the first set of books? Who buys pen or pencil, not even talking about the whole math set for that child going to school and the government doesn’t provide these one,” Ukpong said.

    However, the News Agency of Nigerian had earlier in 2021, reported that the education commissioner, Idongesit Etiebet said the State spends NGN1.5 billion annually for external examinations.

    The report, however, failed to state where she made this claim and where the monies were applied.

    Government Remains Mute…

    Several efforts to reach the State’s commissioner for education, Mrs. Idongesit Etiebet failed. At least six calls on three different occasions to her known telephone number were neither picked nor returned.

    Two text messages were neither acknowledged nor replied. Messages sent on WhatsApp were read by her and neither acknowledged nor replied.

    Two visits for two consecutive days to the Ministry of Education headquarters in Uyo did not yield any result as staff said she could only be seen by appointment.