Tag: UNICAL

UNICAL

UNICAL appoints two female deputy VCs

Prof. Florence Obi, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar and Chairman of the Senate, has announced the appointment of two female deputy vice-chancellors of the institution.

The announcement is contained in a release signed on Monday in Calabar by the Registrar of the institution, Mr Gabriel Egbe.

The two DVCs are Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita, who was re-appointed for a second term as a DVC Academic, and Prof. Grace Eno, who was newly appointed as the DVC Administration.

Egbe said that the appointments were ratified by Senate members at the 231st meeting.

“The VC lauded the former DVC Administration, Prof. Michael Okom and Oyo-Ita, for the good working relationship and their supportive stance for her administration.

“The VC described them as God-chosen for helping her to stabilise at the early stage of her administration.

“The new DVC Administration, who accepted her appointment with joy, said her appointment was a divine providence.

“While speaking to members of the Senate, she assured them and the VC of her loyalty and determination to work for the best interest of the management and the institution,” Egbe said.

He also said that the former DVC Administration had been appointed as the Director of Alumni Relations of the university.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that UNICAL is a public university situated in Calabar, Cross River State. It is one of Nigeria’s second generation federal universities.

The University of Calabar was a campus of the University of Nigeria until 1975. The architecture was designed by John Elliott. It was established by decree to fulfill this traditional mandate, its motto “Knowledge for Service”.

The University of Calabar was one of the foremost Nigerian Universities to automate students’ registration processes through the College Portal, and has taken a step further to automate its alumni relations which includes an online transcript request and processing first of its kind in the country.

December 26, 2022
Alleged kidnap kingpin not UNICAL graduate – Registrar

The University of Calabar, on Wednesday, said that the alleged kidnapper, John Ewa, popularly called “John Lyon” was not a graduate of the institution.

A statement issued in Calabar by the Registrar of the institution, Mr Gabriel Egbe, said that the university’s management stumbled on the media report with dissatisfaction and described it as fallacious.

Newsmen recalls that Ewa was arrested in connection with kidnapping activities by the Bayelsa Police Command and was subsequently paraded before the media.

“The said John Ewa was never a student of the university, neither did he graduate from the institution.

“We urge members of the public to discountenance any information linking John Ewa to our prestigious university,” Egbe said in the statement.

September 28, 2022
400-level UNICAL student climbs floodlight pole to protest dilapidation of UJ Stadium

Kingsley Paul, a 24-year-old 400-level student of the University of Calabar on Thursday climbed one of the floodlight poles of the UJ Esuene Stadium to protest the dilapidation of facilities in the stadium.

Paul, who was rescued by men of The Anti-kidnapping and Cultism Squad, AKCS (Dragon Squad) of the State Police Command, said he was moved by the spirit of God to climb the pole to protest.

He said he was not a thief neither was he attempting to commit suicide.

“I was moved by the spirit of God to climb the pole in the stadium to draw attention to the dilapidated basic facilities in the place, I am not a thief.

“I also did not attempt to commit suicide. I am a student of philosophy in the University of Calabar, 400-level, I have no reason to want to kill myself.

“So my intention was simply to create awareness and draw government attention to look into the state of the stadium.

“I am aware that there were some renovations of the swimming pool and basketball court but a lot of other athletes are suffering because the track and the pitch have really gone bad,” he said.

He maintained that he just wanted government to do something about the challenge, adding that he believes his mode of protest will give the place the much-0needed attention.

Speaking with newsmen, SP Irene Ugbo, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, said the incident is unfortunate.

“While commending the Commander of the Dragon Squad who rescued the protester for their timely intervention,” she said “their initial thought was that it was a suicide attempt.”

Ugbo said upon interrogating him they discovered that he climbed the floodlights to protest as well as draw the attention of the Cross River government to the dilapidated state of the UJ Esuene Stadium.

“He said he is a sports lover and wasn’t happy about the way a lot of the facilities within and around the stadium had been abandoned to rot away.

“We will further profile him as it will help us to know if there is a hidden intention because we won’t tolerate any kind of agitation that may lead to a second #ENDSAR protest,” she said.

The incident led to gridlock along the Muritala Mohammed Highway by stadium, causing commuters to use other routes to avoid being held up in traffic.

February 10, 2022
UNICAL approves creation of digital profiles of students

Prof. Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, has approved the implementation of Intelligent Digital Identity System (IDID) and the production of biometric-based intelligent identity cards, in order to have digital profiles of students of the institution.

This was announced in a statement by the Registrar of the university, Mr Gabriel Egbe, and issued to newsmen on Saturday, in Calabar.

According to the vice chancellor, the decision was in line with the management’s desire to drive a digital education transformation.

”Consequent on the decision taken, the IDID service team will be visiting the various academic departments and institutes, to digitally profile the students,” she stated.

Obi further noted that all students would be required to present themselves for the triple exercise of Personal and Demographic Data Capture, Direct Digital Image Capture, as well as the Direct Biometric Data Capture.

The vice chancellor added that departments and institutes had been directed to provide students’ information, osn excel spreadsheet.

She noted that they were to also give the university’s IDID team the necessary cooperation, for a prompt and seamless exercise.

October 10, 2021
Kidnapped UNICAL Law students regain freedom

The two kidnapped Law students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) have regained freedom from their abductors.

The students, Ikpi Okoi-Itam and Vincent Adomi-Okorafor who were kidnapped on July 1 on campus were released on Sunday in the creeks of Calabar South.

The Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university, Prof. Florence Obi, told NAN that their release had brought much relief to the university community.

Obi, who gave glory to God for the safe release of the students, empathised with them over the traumatic period they went through in the hands of their abductors.

“I am very happy that they were released safely; they have been traumatised and psychologically battered, but I am happy that they are back alive.

“It has been a traumatic period for their colleagues, family and the university community.

“It is a sad situation because kidnapping of students is further bringing down the educational sector in the country. Kidnapping of students is not good for the educational system.

“They just came back from the hospital where they underwent a medical test.

“Examination is starting tomorrow for Law students, but for these two who were kidnapped and released, we have to give them sometime to recuperate before giving them their own examination,” she said.

The VC commended the Police, the Department of State Service and the Nigerian Navy for their collaboration and efforts toward the release of the students.

“The security agencies have done their bests; they have been available to us. The collaboration has been so fruitful and their efforts made the release of the students possible.

“The state Commissioner of Police visited the scene and also, the navy were on water combing the area.

“I want to use this opportunity to commend them and further plead that as we start our examination, they maintain their presence on campus.

“I want to also plead with Gov. Ben Ayade to come to our aid by deploying officials of the state security outfit, Operation Akpakwu, to the university to help us enhance our security,” she said.

Speaking to NAN, one of the released students, Adomi-Okorafor, described the period they spent in captivity as “traumatic and devastating.”

He said they were kidnapped on campus on the morning of July 1 while they were preparing for a test.

“The kidnappers were unkind to us; they tortured us and made us go through hell for 11 days. But, I am happy today that I am seeing the light and interacting with people.

“They took us through the creeks to their camp; it was a painful experience that we went through.

“I want to thank the VC and security agencies for their tireless efforts that ensured our release. I also want to advice the school management to scale up security network on campus,” he said.

July 11, 2021
UNICAL recalls lecturer suspended for selling certificates to students

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has recalled Dr Eyo Mensah of the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages from suspension.

His recall was conveyed in a letter signed by the University Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe on Tuesday in Calabar.

Mensah was suspended from official duties in the institution on May 15, 2018 over alleged certificate racketeering (forging and selling certificates to students).

According to the letter, Mensah’s recall from suspension came on the heels of a court order indicating that the case, which resulted in his suspension, has been struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.

According to the letter, his recall takes effect from April 1.

April 6, 2021
BREAKING: Court jails Professor for manipulating 2019 election results

Professor Peter Ogban, a returning officer in the 2019 general elections in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District has been jailed for election fraud.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ogban, who is a Professor of Soil Science at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) was jailed by a High Court in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday.

He was found guilty of fraudulent manipulation of election results, and of publishing and announcing false results.

He was, therefore, sentenced to three years in jail for the offences.

He was charged for manipulating the election results of two local government areas of Akwa Ibom – Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo.

In a previous court session, Mr Ogban had told the court how results of the election were falsified to give the All Progressives Congress (APC) an unfair advantage over its main rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Godswill Akpabio, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was the APC candidate in the election. He was seeking a return to the Senate after he defected from the PDP.

The PDP candidate, Chris Ekpenyong, a former Deputy Governor in Akwa Ibom State, defeated Mr Akpabio in the election which was gripped by pockets of violence.

Mr Ogban was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the landmark case.

The university lecturer was in the dock, pleading for mercy from the judge, Augustine Odokwo, as of the time of filing this report.

March 25, 2021
ASUU demands release of colleague kidnapped one year ago

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the University of Calabar branch on Monday demanded the unconditional release of their colleague, Dr David Ugwu who has been held captive since February 14, 2020.

There two other victims of kidnapping in the state who are yet to be seen, heard from nor set free by their abductors, ASUU said in a statement.

Radio personality and presenter, Mr. Peter Tex Etim was kidnapped in 2019 and has not been seen, released or heard from since then.

Also, a businessman and owner of Odinka Electronics in Calabar was kidnapped in 2020 and has not been seen, released or heard from since then.

Addressing newsmen during a peaceful procession at the main gate of the University of Calabar, Chairman ASUU-UNICAL, Dr Edor John said the Union and its members feel neglected and scourged with the way and manner the matter was being handled by security agencies.

He disclosed that Dr David Ugwu an associate Professor in the Institute of Policy Planning & Administration was whisked away from his home on 14 February 2020 and has since then remained in captivity till date.

Dr Edor said they want their colleague back whether dead or alive as he has been held for a year now.

His words: “We have been compelled to address the public because we have been beaten again. One of the canons of our Union is that an injury to one is an injury to all”.

February 15, 2021
Hoodlums raid UNICAL, cart away properties worth millions

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) Academic Publishing Centre was invaded by hoodlums, who carted away various items including computers, John Edor, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of the Universities, Calabar Chapter (ASUU-UCB) has said.

In a press statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, Edor, who stated that the intentions of the hoodlums were unclear, said “They were not with banners; they did not chant slogans, etc.

He revealed that no member of the University community was hurt, stressing that the infiltrators have been chased away and that the university management was monitoring the situation.

“Confirmed information available to us has it that some persons have infiltrated the premises of the University of Calabar. Specifically, the Academic Publishing Centre was invaded, and items, including computers, carted away.

“Their intention(s) is/are unclear. They were not with banners; they did not chant slogans, etc. No member of the University community has been hurt, and the infiltrators have been chased away.

“The Commissioner of Police, Cross River State Command has been informed, and police personnel have been drafted to secure lives and property within the University. Students have demonstrated unimaginable altruism and courage, as they have joined forces to repel the infiltrators.

“We salute the prompt and swift response by the Chief Security Officer (UniCal), the Police, and our dear students. Distinguished Comrades, you are respectfully implored to be calm, as the situation has come under control.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and will be keeping us abreast with developments as they may affect us. An injury to one is an injury to all,” the ASUU Chairman said.

October 25, 2020
UNICAL gets first female Vice Chancellor in 45 years of existence

Prof. Florence Banku-Obi has been announced as the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), 45 years after the university was established.

Announcing the result on Friday in Calabar, Sen. Nkechi Nwaogu, Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of Unical Governing Council, said the process of selection was transparent.

Nwaogu said that the Council had assured the 13 contestants for the position of a transparent, fair and just selection process.

She explained that they used the guidelines set up by the Federal Ministry of Education on the conduct of interview for the appointment of a Vice Chancellor.

“At the end of the day, we had a brand new first female VC of the University in the last 45 years. The interview was transparent and some of the contestants are part of our council.

“What I expect of her is to look at what the outgoing VC has done because governance is a continuous process. She should invite all those who contested with her and build a team.

“No one person can execute the programmes without the integration of other erudite administrators that presented their CVs yesterday.

“She should be an integrative agent and I expect her to look inward on the areas of internally generated revenue and pluck the areas.

“She needs to motivate staff and students of the school and as an erudite Professor and a mother, I know that she will bring all these to bear,” she said.

She congratulated Banku-Obi and wished her the best in her tenure.

Speaking, Banku-Obi, said she was elated and happy, adding that she returned all the glory to God.

“I am very happy today, I just received my appointment letter from the 12th Council as the 11th VC elect effective from Dec. 1, 2020.

“It was a free and fair contest and I am happy about it. The University of Calabar should expect an inclusive administration from me,” she said.

Prof. Banku-Obi will be taking over from Prof. Zana Akpagu whose tenure will end on 30 Nov.

Banku-Obi hails from Boki local government area in Cross River and she has been a lecturer in the department of Education.

She is the only two-time back to back Dean, faculty of Education, since the history of the University.

She has also served as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) and also as a member of the University Governing Council.

She has over 60 publications to her credit in both local and international journals.

She has supervised over 30 postgraduates Diploma Projects, 12 Master Degrees Theses and 8 PhD Dissertations and has so far assessed 13 persons for professorial positions.

September 11, 2020