The Lumine News

Tag: #University of Calabar

  • UNICAL Emerges Victorious In Regional Law Competition, Wins ₦2 Million And Fully Sponsored Internship

     

     

    By: Cynthia Maduekwe 

     

    The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has triumphed in the Regional Law Moot and Mock Trial Competition organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, defeating the University of Benin (UNIBEN) as 2nd Position, Imo State University (IMSU) came 3rd position and Rivers State University (RSU) came 4th and UNICAL as first position got in to securing the top prize of ₦2 million and a fully sponsored internship.

    This victory marks the second time UNICAL has outperformed UNIBEN in a competition this year, having previously won an online competition earlier in the year. The University of Calabar’s team, comprising four law students – 1st Female SUG President, H.E. Comr. Blessing Alims Led Administration Attorney General, Greatness Eyonsa, 2 years ago, he won the award of  “Moot god” & “Best Advocate, South South LAWSAN” and 2 years down he is appearing in his last National Moot Competition as a Law Undergraduate with the great team and winning this for the prestigious institution alongside Ignatius Ogabor, emerging as the best advocate of the tournament . Glenn Bassey, and Hannangel Samuel, who won the cash prize of N50,000 for the team for producing a video of the event which had over 4,000 views. The was led by Dr. Paul Ebiala, a law lecturer, who demonstrated exceptional skill and knowledge in the competition.

    The Students’ Union Government of UNICAL,  Management as well the Public and Well wishers commends the team for their outstanding performance and dedication to excellence. This achievement is a testament to the university’s commitment to academic excellence and its students’ potential.

  • UNICAL Suspends GSS Examinations, Announces New Date…Rues The Unintended Ugly Consequence

    By TheLumineNews Admin 

    University of Calabar management has formally announced the suspension of the General Studies Examination which led to a stampede of 21 students on Saturday November 11th 2023.

    In a release made available to TheLuminenews, and signed by the institution Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, indicates that the examination has now been rescheduled for December 10th and 11th 2023.

    The release reads in full; “The management of the University of Calabar has formally announced the suspension of the General Studies Examination (GSS), following the stampede that occurred on Saturday 11th November, 2023 at the venue of the examination.

    “The announcement which was conveyed in a release issued by the Registrar of the University of Calabar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, also disclosed that the GSS examinations has now been rescheduled for December 11 and 12, 2023 for all students that could not write the examination.

    “The Registrar in the release said the avoidable stampede resulted in some injuries, however, the affected students were given immediate treatment at the University Medical Centre and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital respectively.

    “While Management of the University is still investigating the incident, it is however happy to report from its visits to the 21 injured students (14 in UCTH, 7 in Unical Med Centre) in both health facilities, that no life was lost and that virtually all of them have been discharged.

    “The Management of the institution regrets the ugly incident and wants to assure parents of the safety of their children under the custody of the University and also reassure our “esteemed and Valuable” students of its relentless drive to ensure and achieve academic excellence”.

  • Students Refutes Prof Ojua’s Release, Insists That GSS Examination Was Not Properly Organized, Poorly Administered And Tailored Towards Sorting

    By TheLumineNews Admin

    Controversies continued to trail the press release issued on Saturday November 11th 2023, by the University Director of General Studies (GSS), Prof Takim Ojua, after the stampede that occurred during Saturday November 11th GSS examination.

    Some of the students that claimed anonymity argued that both the planning and administration was riddled with levity by the handlers of the examination, which was mischievous, mundane, anachronistic, unjust and discriminatory with the purpose of making students failed so that they can extort money from them.

    Students wondered why a very sensitive issue of such magnitude could be trivialized as seen in the press release by Director of GSS, Prof Takim Ojua, instead of apologizing to the oppressed students.

    Recall that on Friday 10th November, 2023, when a similar examination was supposed to be conducted at ICT center, reports had it that the SERVICOM Director of the institution, Prof Patrick Egaga, in company of the Chief Security Officer, Capt Abang (RTD), defied the heavy flood around the vicinity of the examination, and armed with directives of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, had advised that the said exams conducted under a porous, flooded and unsafe atmosphere should be cancelled, for a later day to be fixed for the safety of the students and integrity of the University. Curiously, our reporter discovered that the examination was stopped temporarily, obstensibly, because of their presence, but as soon as the duo left the venue of the questionable examination, which they described as “unsafe, poorly managed and improperly organized and administered”,
    the “organizers” rebuffed and flouted the VC’s directives, properly conveyed and went ahead with the examination, to achieve a sinister purpose maybe.

    Prof Ojua’s release reads in parts, “On Saturday, the 11th of November, 2023, University of Calabar students who were scheduled to write Computer Based Test (CBT) GSS Examination, set out to write their exams without any premonition that the exercise will be marred by an unfortunate incident of Stampede casualties, leading to the indefinite suspension of the examination as a result of some medical emergency.

    “Unfortunately, some people saw the incident as an avenue for making headlines and attracting traffic to their platforms and blogs. While some built on hurried publications and posts to re-create stories, others merely found new opportunities to further their negative publicity on the University of Calabar in such a critical time of the life of the University. In all of these, facts were misrepresented, skewed and disseminated, with brazen misinformation about what exactly happened. Based on the high level of misconception and misconstruction of the facts, the Directorate of the Center for General Studies (CGS) deemed it necessary to set the following records straight”.

    Reacting to the release, an anonymous student maintained that the Director has acquissed that the Examination was marred by an “Unfortunate Incident” the honorable thing he will have done was to accept his incompetence and inadequacy and appeal to Administration to cancel the questionable Examination in entirety.

    Another student, Paul Ebube (not real name), said that the GSS Director was in a haste to defend his shortcomings.
    The student noted that, going by the release, the Director is yet to mention some of the media houses or blogs that reported death of students during the stampede, instead of crating a non-existing situation to gain public sympathy. Moreover, he questioned, “is he the spokesperson of the University?”

    The student insisted that poor management and greed is the major cause of the stampede as the school security that assisted in the management of GSS examination is alleged not to have been paid their remuneration for the previous examinations and as a result, the directorate of GSS resorted to using extraneous Man’O’War to assist in coordinating the examination.

    Prof Ojua’s release further reads, “That the Exams of Friday, the 10th of November 2023 started successfully by 8am, until the heavy rain and storms began at about 10am, causing the stoppage of the examination until the rain and flood subsided at about 3pm, when some students returned to write the exams till about 5pm. And while it was raining, and flooding heavily, a group of students rather than move out of the rain to take refuge on nearby buildings, preferred to stand in the rain despite pleas and announcements from the staff of the Center, man O’War and security men”.

    “So why did the corrupt Director not mention anything about the GST exam of Friday Nov 10 conducted under threat of students and staff safety and inside a raging flood that ravaged the University Neigbourhood?”, a female student queried.

    Another student who also claimed anonymity, berates the GSS Director for failing to provide the leadership he was appointed to give to the directorate and wondered what preventive measures were put in place (rescheduling examination for those that missed due to heavy rainfall), when the rain had disrupted the examination between 10:00am and 3:00pm scheduled for Friday 10th November, 2023 as he rightly reported.

    The student insisted that what is of utmost importance in the circumstance is the alternative plans for those students who had missed the examination at the period of the stoppage due to the heavy rain, and how the students failed to comply with such directives.
    The students also wondered why Prof Ojua, insisted on continuing with the examination even against the directives of the Vice Chancellor.

    This student averred that “examination is time bound. The Director may have collected monies from some students and he was doing everything humanly possible to administer the examination to enable him protect the interest of those he may have collected monies from.

    The director’s release further reads, “That the examination of Saturday, the 11th of November 2023, started smoothly, with the 3rd set, almost concluding, before students who either missed exams, were not scheduled to write in the morning or were not even part of the examination, became unruly, uncontrollable, impatient, defiant, by wanting to break into the exam venue forcefully”.

    Another anonymous student held that, “What happened at the gate is that we were scheduled to write examination at a particular time, but the directorate don’t keep to the time. Anytime you come, once you can pay #200.00 to some Man O’War, they will allow you to enter, so entering into the examination center with up to four or five faculties scheduled for a day, becomes survival of the fittest. Those that missed examination on Friday and those who were scheduled for Friday all came out and were struggling to access the examination centre.

    Reacting to the issue of those who missed the examination on Friday, the student noted that, “when students missed examination the previous day on account of the rain, which wasn’t their fault with no information regarding rescheduling of the examination, what do you expect? Some of us felt that since we missed the examination on Friday, we were now supposed to have taken the examination on Saturday. This led to overcrowding of the gate and couple with the partiality shown by allowing some students into the examination centre while others are kept waiting”.

    In another development, Prof Ojua stated thus, “That the Examination was scheduled in batches, with specific faculties scheduled to write on stipulated time and dates. Unfortunately, some students refused to abide by the Time Table Schedule and rather decided to gate- crash by forcing the gate to open, resulting in the avoidable, unfortunate and regrettable incident”.

    Another student argued that if the Director was serious as he claimed, he should make public the planned time table for the examination showing clearly, the various faculties, considering the number of departments and students who register for the GSS examination.
    He regretted the vulnerability of students who are always at the receiving end of poor planning on issues that concerns students and situations like this unforseen circumstance, instead of Prof Ojua to come clean and take responsibility for his inadequacies, he rather wants to use the students as scapegoats.

    Ojua in his release also stated, “That the essence of the introduction of the GSS CBT exams by the school management was to ensure fast service delivery, easy access to examination and results and to reduce the stress on students during examination periods”.

    Another student wondered why the CBT that was created to reduce the stress on students during examination periods, has turned to triple the stress of students under his watch.
    This student opined that the appointment of Prof Takim Ojua is a misnomal with the introduction of CTB. He alleged that Prof Ojua is not even ICT compliant, and called on the university management to restore the integrity of the university.

    The release further reads, “Students are therefore advised to travel as the exams has been suspended till further notice”.

    A four hundred level student of the faculty of law wondered if the university is still guided by administrative laws. He expressed surprise why the GSS Director, Prof Takim Ojua still talk about suspension of the examination instead of outright cancellation in line with the VC’S directives.

    Some other students have alleged that they are made to pay between 10 to 15k as sorting fee before they can pass the GSS examination and likened the shattered preparation and administration of the examination to aid the sorting process. ” No need reading for GST or attending classes. Pay direct to the Director and your grade is guaranteed ” said Emem Ekanem (not real name).
    An anonymous female student alleged that the Director is “presently using part of his official office as a branch of his Church”. “He collects sorting as tithes and promises those who attend protection and good grades”. “He is even bold to tell you he makes returns to administration, he is in charge of uploading of GST results and nothing can change it as he and the VC hail from the same LGA”.
    So far, nothing has been heard from the University Management in connection with this embarrassing sham as the students wait for “Godot”.

    See some reactions and comments of some the students on the press release by the Director of GSS as was shared by Nsikak Ibatt on his verified Facebook page.

    See link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02fvqu1PPoG1bd2u8CTN3ZinnBU86wVarDmeDLLfSLvXfSvZVKhcN19irag1JV8i7dl&id=100004199258282&mibextid=Nif5oz

    Kandy Umoh said: This man just said nonsense

    Cletus Asuquo said: E go explain tire

    Joe Cassy said: Blames always on d students…

    De Cen Cy said: Let him go and sit down. Such a glorified writer.
    This and many more are some of the consequences of being greedy. Just feeling for the victimized individuals.
    For crying out loud, everyone knows that for the past three years, the school has become overly populated yet, the management keeps admitting millions of applicants to the detriment of students even when its obvious that the school doesn’t have enough resources to carter for the well-being of these ones.
    Unical is among the first five most populated university in Nigeria with the poorest management yet they are less concerned about covering up her lapses.

    Mc Nawe ll: Thunder go f.ire am

    Richard said: Anything that happens in a any higher institutions is always the fault the of the students
    Meanwhile the the management are always right , even tho 95% of those plans have lapses
    Isortry
    🚶🚶🚶🚶

    Louiz Dominic said: Nah students 💯

    In another development, the Chairman, Forum of Faculties Presidents University of Calabar and President, Faculty of Clinical Science, Comrade Emmanuel Oshie, has called on the University management to investigate EDC and GSS on report from students that they are mandated to buy an imposed textbook from lecturers for assessment.

  • 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.

  • Caterpillar Movement Felicitates DC Enamhe On His Appointment As UNICAL ALUMNI Relation Officer

    CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT.
    21st January 2022.

    Dr. Enamhe Dorn Cklaimz.
    Department of Social Works,
    University of Calabar,
    Calabar.

    FELICITATION

    On behalf of our Principal, Dist. Senator Sandy Onor, the entire Caterpillar Movement Family and PDP in cross river central senatorial district, I heartily extend our warmest felicitation to you on your milestone achievements which have resulted in your appointment as Acting Alumni Relation Officer, University of Calabar by the amiable Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi.

    Over the years, moving steadily on the path of selfless service and patriotism, you have affirmed your place as a dependable, productive and purpose-driven individual, capable of ensuring the welfare of people under your watch.
    You have demonstrated uncommon qualities of service to humanity and mankind.

    This appointment, therefore, is a mark of expression of this confidence that people have in you.

    I hereby urge you to remain assiduous, efficient and committed to the principles that have earned you this appointment, and to continue to blaze the trail . We are proud of you DC.

    Once again, Congratulations!!

    Joe-Obi Bisong (Hon Chief)
    DG, Caterpillar Movement)

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong: An Enigmatic/Innovative Progenitor Of Union Sustenance And Educational Renaissance

    By Admin

    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 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.