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Tag: #Florence Obi

  • Poverty Alleviation: FG To Partner Unical on Skills Acquisition, Wealth Creation – Betta Edu

    Poverty Alleviation: FG To Partner Unical on Skills Acquisition, Wealth Creation – Betta Edu

    The Federal Government has expressed its readiness to partner with the University of Calabar to train the trainers with skill acquisition-based knowledge to redistribute wealth and reduce poverty in the country.

    Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu stated this when she received the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi, and her team in her office.

    Edu said her office has the mandate to create Wealth and reduce poverty in Nigeria and expressed delight that the Unical Skill Acquisition and Vocational Center would come in handy in training thousands of youths, thereby reducing unemployment and social tension.

    According to the Minister,
    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to reducing poverty in Nigeria and has directed that her Ministry hit the ground running.

    “Thankfully, the University of Calabar Skills Acquisition and Vocational Centre is available for you; we are going to partner with your university and others across the country in realizing this set objectives by Mr. President”, she said.

    Recalling the role the University played in her career and political trajectory, the Minister said Unical prepared her early for a leadership role as the vice president of the Student Union Government (SUG), adding she is a proud ambassador of the institution and also proud to fly its flag anywhere in the world.

    Earlier, Professor Obi, said Dr. Edu is a valued alumni of the institution hence she and her team were in the Minister’s office to congratulate her on her well-deserved appointment and inauguration as Minister.

    The Vice-Chancellor described the Minister as a role model to the students of the University and commended President Tinubu for finding their alumni worthy of appointment as a minister and member of the Federal Executive Council.

    Professor Obi was accompanied to the Minister’s office by the University’s registrar, Gabriel Egbe, the Bursar, Joseph Udum, and the President of the Unical Alumni Association, Dr. Dorn Cklaimz Ename.

  • Sexual Harassment: Women Voice Calls For Thorough Investigation, Commends UNICAL VC

    Sexual Harassment: Women Voice Calls For Thorough Investigation, Commends UNICAL VC

     

    Women networks under the ‘Women Voice and Leadership Project’ of ActionAid Nigeria, funded by Global Affairs Canada, have condemned in strong terms the alleged scandal with regards to the unwarranted intimidation and sexual harassment at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) where the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Cyril Ndifon, over alleged sexual harassment.

    The Women group said that the alleged sexual harassment which is the second so far reported against Prof. Ndifon was not only appalling, disgusting but, unacceptable to put it mildly.

    It is in the light of these anomalies that we not only call but strongly demand for stringent measures against Prof. Ndifon.

    “While we commend the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, and the management team of the institution for the swift action taken by suspending Prof. Ndifon over the violations of the well laid rules and regulations of the institution, we however insist and demand for a full and comprehensive investigation into the condemnable matter as well as ensure proper prosecution of Prof. Ndifon to serve as deterrent to others with similar behavioural pattern or intentions.

    Towards this end, we urge heads of educational institutions in the country to as a matter of public importance, burrow a leaf from the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL by creating a safe space for girls to voice out against sexual and gender based violence in schools.

    They said they such proactive measures will go a long way to create the environment such as the type that empowered the law students of UNICAL to staged a protest and opened up on the constant sexual harassment and abuse of their bodies by lecturers of the institution.

    The group said that if the ugly trend if not urgently addressed, it is capable of truncating the educational and self development of girls and women.

    It is in this respect that we passionately appeal to Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of national concern and interest, kindly assent to the Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational institutions Bill passed by the 9th National Assembly.

    Similarly, we strongly recommend that educational institutions in Nigeria should as a matter of necessity, develop sexual and gender harassment policy to safeguard the dignity of girls with a view to providing safe environment for learning.

    Lastly, we wish to applaud the boldness and forthrightness of the female laws students of UNICAL for standing up and speaking against injustice. We therefore appeal to other students facing similar abuses and intimidation to speak up so that the educational system can be cleansed of bad elements.

    The Women Voice group promised to work with the gender department of UNICAL to provide pyscho social support to survivors of sexual harassment in the school with a view to giving them hope of a better future.

    The team had earlier paid a visit to the VC to identify with her efforts and actions so far and to encourage her to allow justice, equity and fairplay on the matter.

    They however, demanded for the security protection of the girls and students who had come out to speak.

    In her remarks, the VC said students are speaking out today because she has created an enabling and safe environment for students since assumption of office through the numerous students programs and projects like youth friendly hub and Gender Development Centre geared towards building their confidence level that encourage them to be vocal and speak out in addition to being accessible to all students.

  • UNICAL VC, Florence Obi To Be Honored With NYASA Award

    UNICAL VC, Florence Obi To Be Honored With NYASA Award

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has been selected to be honoured as the recipient of the 2023 “The Thomas and Corinne Nyquist Distinguished Service Award”.

    A release signed by the President, Dr Bekeh Ukelina and Vice President, Dr Ndubueze Mbah of the New York African Studies Association (NYASA), disclosed that the choice of Prof. Florence Obi was based on her outstanding contributions through dedicated service in the advancement of higher education and knowledge of Africa.

    The release specifically recognised the many years of service of Prof. Florence Obi in diverse capacities as a lecturer, Professor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Member of the University’s Governing Council, Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Member of Cross River State Executive Council and now first female Vice Chancellor of the institution.

    The award will be presented to the Vice Chancellor at the 46th NYASA Annual Conference slated to be held at the University of Calabar on June 30, 2023.

    The New African Studies Association (NYASA) is a body open to all those having a scholarly or professional interest in African Studies.

    The University of Calabar felicitates with the Vice Chancellor on the occasion of this great and glorious honour.

  • My Administration Will Sustain Fight Against Gender-based Violence, Says UNICAL VC

    My Administration Will Sustain Fight Against Gender-based Violence, Says UNICAL VC

     

    Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, says her administration will always sustain the fight against gender-based violence in the institution.

    Prof. Obi stated this when officials of the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), led by the Executive Director, paid an advocacy visit to her in her office.

    She said Unical has been at the forefront of the fight against gender-based violence and will leave nothing to chance in its avowed determination to stamp out the menace.

    The varsity administrator said the institution will always embrace any form of partnership geared towards tackling gender-based issues, even as she restated her administration’s commitment towards partnering with ISMPH.

    She said the need to tackle gender-based issues in Unical culminated in the establishment of a Center for Gender Development, which she said, has been up and running since inception.

    “We are open to any form of partnership on gender-related issues. As an institution, we have been very keen on ending gender-based violence and it is for this reason that I am pledging to sustain the fight against the menace,” she said.

    Earlier, the Executive Director of ISMPH, Mrs Moji Makanjoula, described the advocacy visit as a ‘defining moment’, maintaining that, the need to institutionalize violence against women for better prevention, response protocols and programmes have become imperative.

    She said ISMPH in conjunction with UNESCO developed a manual on eliminating Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Harmful practices, adding that, it has been deployed, accepted and effectively operational in pilot tertiary institutions as a resource to beef up the existing policies and response framework on sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

    Makanjoula said the ISMPH project is also aimed at conducting training for staff and other engagements within the University Community which require in-depth discourse on the development of novella strategies to combat violence against women and girls.

    The Executive Director said if violence against women and girls must be eliminated, education, sensitization and development of rules and guidelines at the school level are imperative.

    She said the overreaching goal of the project is to work with three Universities, including Unical, to mainstream and promote women and girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the school curriculum.

    To achieve this goal, she said ISMPH will work closely with the University Management and varsity-based unions to organize campus rallies to create awareness of the institutionalization of violence against women and girls prevention and response protocols.

  • Unical VC Visits Student Involved In Auto Crash, Offers Financial Assistance

    Unical VC Visits Student Involved In Auto Crash, Offers Financial Assistance

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has visited a year-one student of the institution, Likita Desmond, who was involved in an auto crash along Ikom-Calabar highway on January 8, 2023.

    Desmond left Makurdi to Calabar for school resumption before the unfortunate incident occurred.

    The VC, who visited the student at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, offered financial assistance to him for his medication.

    Prof. Obi, thereafter, directed the Director of UNICAL Medical Centre to liaise with the management of UCTH for his treatment.

    While wishing Desmond a quick recovery, the VC urged students of the institution to take advantage of the T-Ship programme for their medical needs.

    She stressed that the university under her administration places premium on the health of students, hence the need for them to visit the institution’s medical center for their medication and other health issues.

    Desmond’s mother, who responded on behalf of her son, thanked the VC for the show of motherly love for his son and for coming to the hospital to visit them.

  • UNICAL VC Seeks More Collaborations With Foreign Universities On Learning Programmes 

    UNICAL VC Seeks More Collaborations With Foreign Universities On Learning Programmes 

     

    In her determination to place the University of Calabar in the global map and also promote quality university education with students performance as her top priority, the Vice Chancellor. Prof. Florence Banku Obi, took time off to visit the DePaul University, Chicago, to finalise the collaboration discussion which was started with the visit of Prof Margaret workman and Umoh Isidore in July this year to Unical.

    During the visit, the VC held a meeting with Prof. GianMario Besana, the Associate Provost for Global Engagement and Online Education, with Workman, Isidore in attendance.

    The timetable for the collaboration was worked out to start in January 2023 due to ASUU strike.

    Benefits of the Global Learning Experience Programme to UNICAL are as follows:

    1. Results from the entire exercise will be converted into publications which the University of Calabar will benefit.

    2. Students of the University of Calabar who will participate in the Programme will be issued certificates by DePaul University, Chicago, USA.

    3. The Students will also have the opportunity of interacting with students of DePaul University, Chicago where there can share their experiences about learning in Nigeria and learning in Chicago; this will give them global exposure.

    The Vc also visited  the Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, to seek more collaborations.

    At the Northeastern university, the VC met with Prof. Cris E. Toffolo, the Interim Director, International Programs and Prof. Job Ngwe, who is the Chair of Social Work Programs of the University.

    Discussion was centered on partnership and building collaboration on the Social Work Programmes of both universities.

    The proactive VC was in Chicago for a one week  Executive Leadership Development Programme for Vice-Chancellors and Principal Officers of Nigeria Universities organised by the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigeria in conjunction with the University of Chicago.

    With the dynamism of the Vice-Chancellor, the students and faculty of the University of Calabar will get more International exposure once universities reopen for academic work.

  • UNICAL Partners DePaul University For Global Learning Experience Programme

    UNICAL Partners DePaul University For Global Learning Experience Programme

     

    DePaul University, Chicago, USA, is partnering with University of Calabar to deliver Global Learning Experience Programme.

    The Team from University of Chicago USA visited the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi on the 27th of July, 2022 to further conversations on the Global Learning Experience Programme.

    Representatives of DePaul University, Chicago, that are to pilot the Programme are Prof. Margaret Workman and Prof. Isiodoh.

    The University of Calabar will be represented by Prof. P. C. Okafor, (Director of External Relations), Prof. Anthony Akpan (Director ICT), Prof Ajake (Dean of faculty of Environment), Associate Prof. Rapheal Offiong (UNICAL Carbon Innovation Center), Prof. Pauline Essoka (HoD of Geography and Environmental Sciences), Dr. Paul Tawo Bukie (Department of Computer Science) and Mr. Jude Bepeh (Public Health Department).

    During the programme, students of University of Calabar shall take online courses together with students of DePaul University, Chicago.

    Prof. Margaret Workman will take a course in September 2022 while Prof. Isiodoh will take another course in April 2023.

    The students from both University will be allowed to interact through Google platforms, share assignments, classwork, quiz, and to have global learning experiences.

    The programme will involve collection of climate change stories from communities via interviews. These interviews will be recorded and synthesised.This will start in September 2022.

    In July 2023, there shall be a film festival, where the synthesised climate change stories will be used to shoot a movie.

    Visitors were taken round the University of Calabar campus, drill ranch in Calabar and Marina Resort for sight seeing and entertainment.

    Benefits of the Global Learning Experience Programme to UNICAL are as follows:

    1. Results from the entire exercise will be converted into publications which the University of Calabar will benefit.

    2. Students of the University of Calabar who will participate in the Programme will be issued certificates by DePaul University, Chicago, USA.

    3. The Students will also have the opportunity of interacting with students of DePaul University, Chicago where there can share their experiences about learning in Nigeria and learning in Chicago; this will give them global exposure.

  • Florence Obi: Upgrading Infrastructure In UNICAL For Academic Comfort BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Florence Obi: Upgrading Infrastructure In UNICAL For Academic Comfort BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    Always pragmatic in her style of administration, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi has in a little over one year in office repositioned a large number of office and studying facilities to ease the process of learning and avail more comfort for students of the institution. On assuming office as Vice Chancellor, she met a lot of infrastructure and facilities in an appalling state with dilapidated hostels, decrepit lecture halls and uncompleted examination pavilions.

    The situation was further worsened with the devastating invasion of the institution by angry youths during the END SARS protests leading to a complete stripping of hostel facilities including conduit pipes, wires, toilet shanks, basins and pipes, windows, doors, and roofs. The hostels were more like ruins in the aftermath of a fierce war and students could not be sent to live there with all good conscience. She commissioned the renovation and expansion of many of these facilities even with a zero bank balance at her inception and handed down stiff timeliness to the contractors. She has also included external works, furnishing and landscaping as separate contracts tied to the original projects.

    Arc James Ikpi, who is the Director of Physical Planning said that the ongoing projects are mostly lecture theatres and pavilions. “Pavilions 1, 2 and 3 are existing structures that had neither offices nor conveniences. Large halls that we are remodelling to increase sitting capacity. They were just halls which we have converted to storey buildings in order to increase the sitting capacity and enhance student comfort. The projects were started in October last year but are almost complete. These projects are under the TETFUND budget for 2018/2019/2020 but they were not done until we came and met them.”

    “The Vice Chancellor has told us that she doesn’t want abandoned projects that will attract variation. We started in October and many of them are already completed while the other ones are nearing completion. The team that came from Tetfund was very impressed with our work. Commissioning of the projects will be coming up soon” Engineer Ikpi said.

    I found one of the major contractors, Engineer Dominic Eguda at one of the sites and he told me that he was under immense pressure from the Vice Chancellor to deliver the job. “I have worked in about 15 institutions but I have never experienced this kind of commitment from any chief executive. We originally wrote that we will complete the projects in 36 weeks but the VC insisted that we compress the duration to 24 weeks, making us to work day and night. She comes to inspect the site twice a day. The management also; from physical planning, bursary etc, have also been very supportive”.

    The pavilions now have a sitting capacity of 4,500 students for lectures and examinations, up from 1,200. And the theatres are now fitted with suitable offices, conveniences and other ancillary facilities.

    The Director disclosed that “we are doing all this even though we inherited sanctions caused by infractions of up to N1.3 billion from the previous administration due to misapplication of funds
    which we have been refunding. As a result of this, funds for 2021 and 2022 Tetfund intervention are not available to us. We are repaying gradually. We are trying to wipe out the impression that we are the institution with the highest abandoned projects so that we can return to good standing with TETFUND”.

    When I spoke to Engr Paul Takon, who is the Deputy director of works (Electrical), he was excited about the Solar project he was supervising which is a gracious intervention from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. “We are lighting up the institution including security search lights especially after the criminality that has been going on. Deans of faculties are also being encouraged to also light up their faculties.”

    “Public Power supply has always been the limitation, but we are already in the second phase of Energising Education Programme which is another intervention from the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, to give universities 247 Power supply. What is proposed for the University of Calabar is a 7 megawatts solar plant which will adequately cater for the power supply needs of the university. Contractors are already bidding for the actual construction of the plant. In the next 2 – 3 months work will start effectively”.

    He said that in the meantime, the Vice Chancellor has just bought another new 1500kva generator to add to the two existing ones. The
    VC has also made sure that most faculties and departments have strong generators that can carry airconsitioners and other electricity needs, so that the absence of public power does not disrupt academic activities.

  • 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.

  • 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.