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Today is a great day, a day to reflect on the birth of a distinguished Nigerian and a czar of quality university education.
SEPTEMBER 19 is quite significant because it afford us another opportunity to celebrate a record breaker, a sterling woman, a dynamic personality, the amazon of academic excellence, one of Nigeria’s leading most influential woman and the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar.
Your life has continued to reinforce my belief in the aphorism that “leadership is not just a position but a call for service and responsibility”. You have continued to exemplify your unquenchable zeal and passion for quality service delivery towards nation-building since your journey as Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar.
Over the years, you have demonstrated the real leadership ideals, values, progressivism and ethics embedded in you. Today and everyday, we celebrate your continuous relevance as not just accidental but a visionary and transformational leader that is well nurtured in the progressive ideology.
Your modesty, humility, simplicity, sagacity, dexterity and honorable etiquette typified you as an embodiment of Ekpang Onyinyi Obonghe mu Bansan Clan and a servant leader.
Cheers to a Professor who teaches from the heart and mind, and not just from the syllabus and books.
Happy birthday to the Vice-Chancellor who inspired her students to read beyond journals and look beyond classroom walls to reach the heights that were beyond their expectations.
Most Professors are experts in subjects that they teach their students. But you are also an expert in two more subjects called Motivation and Inspiration–which you give out every day.
You are a brilliant Vice-Chancellor, extraordinary lecturer, amazing teacher, remarkable mentor and an inspiring counselor.
A university’s biggest assets are not infrastructure and equipment, but brilliant Professors like you.
You give back so much to the society by helping students shape their lives and careers. Today is our chance to do something for you in return.
On this auspicious birth anniversary of yours, I pray for God’s continuous wisdom, knowledge and sound health to keep navigating your path and thought as you continue to promote research, learning and academic excellence in UNICAL.
Happy birthday Eti Eka Prof. Florence Banku Obi
George Odok Jnr
Senior Defence Correspondent
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
