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UNICAL

  • Killings: UNICAL arrests 11 alleged cultists, tightens security around campus

    The management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) on Monday said it has deployed security around and within the institution over the killing of two students by gunmen in a suspected renewed wave of cult clashes on campus.

    Following the development, 11 suspected cultists have been arrested and handed over to the anti-cultism and kidnap unit of the Cross River State Police Command in Calabar.

    Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Zana Akpagu, in a statement issued through the Registrar, Mr. Moses Abang, said police patrol teams have been stationed at the main gate of the institution, while the internal security team is stationed at other strategic parts of the campus.

    The vice-chancellor further directed random stop-and-search of persons and vehicles at vulnerable points.

    Akpagu said, “The patrol exercise has paid off with the arrest of 11 suspected cultists who have been handed over to the anti-cultism and kidnapping unit of the Nigeria Police, Cross River State Command, for further interrogation.

    “On March 16, 2018, gunmen launched attacks on one Oko Sylvester, also known as Davido, a final year student of the Department of Theatre, Film and Carnival Studies; and Wilson Ebina, a second year student of the Department of Education Science (Chemistry Education) in a violent manner that resulted in their deaths.

    “Investigation revealed that prior to his death, Oko Sylvester, who was shot in the stomach, has been on suspension for his involvement in various acts of cultism and robbery; while Wilson Ebina was shot dead at a building under construction opposite the Faculty of Education Twin Theatre Hall.

    “Both are said to belong to the Vikings Confraternity.”

    Meanwhile, the statement noted that a final year student in the Faculty of Law and resident of Hall Four, Augustine Nkanu, also known as Abacha; and Joseph Obimbua, alias Obe, also a final year student of the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences are on the run after dangerous weapons were allegedly discovered in Nkanu’s room by the school security operatives.

    Items recovered from the room include one locally made pistol, one small axe, one face mask, live and expended cartridges, military camouflage, military sweater, one long dagger, one machete, assorted bottles of concoctions, charms and rings, among others.

    The items have been handed over to the Anti-Cultism Unit of the state Police Command for further investigation.

  • Akpagu: UniCal’s Quintessential Don And Administrator

    By: Philip Agbese

    Former American first lady, Rosalynn Carter once gave a recipe of the outcomes of a good leader. She enunciated that, “A leader takes people where they want to go.

    A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.” The emergence of Professor Zana Itiunbe Akpagu as the 10th Vice Chancellor(VC) of the about 42 year-old University of Calabar, in Cross River state, Nigeria, came at the most auspicious time in the history of the institution.

    Certain events do not just happen. At a phase in history, some leaders are divinely ordained to saunter on board the stage for a rescue mission. The appointment of Professor Akpagu, an Obudu-born reputable scholar of Modern Languages and Translations to lead his alma mater resonates with the trappings of providence where God Almighty Himself has anointed an exceptional academic and insider to turn around the plummeting fortunes of this great institution.

    Professor Akpagu’s appointment elicited instant jubilation and a socio-political organization in Cross River state by the nomenclature of ”Destiny Group” feted him to a lavish reception. The Director General of the body Barrister Joe Edet during the reception poured endearing emotions which has remained the guiding principle for the VC.
    He said “Professor Zana, you are one of us and let it be on record today that we will always support you and we will not hesitate to tell you too if you are not doing according to what you promised both the lecturers and the students of the University of Calabar”

    This appears to be his covenant with his community, the university and Nigeria, which he holds sacrosanct. He knows a wrong step or poor leadership of the institution would disappoint his community as their ambassador to the outside world. And so far, he has measured up to expectations.

    Sequel to the inauguration of Prof. Akpagu as the Vice Chancellor on December 1st, 2015, he served the institution in various capacities, including Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Administration. Thus ennobled, the multi-lingual icon clearly understands his briefs in the university community which his esteemed colleagues deemed him worthy to head.

    In brief remarks, Akpagu, summarized his focus at Unical to include improvement in the Information Communication Technology, welfare of students and staff, development of infrastructure on campus, shore-up IGR, accord maximum attention to academic excellence and discipline in all fields in order to reposition this second generation university on a higher pedestal as a citadel of learning. His apt sense of the working environment in the university is gleaned from his knowledge of the institution both as a student and teacher of several years. He knows it inside out and which step would lead to best results.

    Generally reputed as a humble, but vibrant academic, the VC set out to prove his mettle. As an ardent believer in the change doctrine of the APC national government in Nigeria, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, what consistently assails his mind is the best way to blend the etiquette of change with the usual radicalism of university communities to enthrone a conducive learning environment and achieve academic excellence.

    As a team player, he cordially interfaced and interacted with the different segments and interests in the university community on what paths to collectively follow or measures to adopt to realize the objectives outlined in his blueprint for the university. Akpagu seamlessly extracted from all categories of workers a commitment to duty, discipline, hard work, transparency and accountability and the unflinching pursuit of academic excellence by both teachers and students.

    And in the last one year, Unical has mutated from its sleepy status to an institution that is fast undergoing an incredible positive transformation in a wide range of areas. This is attested by the multiple evidence of academic excellence with scores of students graduating with first class degrees in specialised disciplines, something regarded as gold in academic circles and setting of new academic records; and the students he offered automatic employment in his desire to retain the best brains for the varsity.

    Professor Akpagu is a workaholic and a man who holds unto the inviolable sanctity of promises he makes. In the quest to tackle his pledge of infrastructural improvements on campus, the VC launched a N10 billion Endowment Fund to independently fund capital projects like new lecture halls/ classrooms, offices, hostels, sports facilities, furniture, laboratories, library resources and a hordes of others. And there have been positive responses from well-meaning Nigerians to assist him in the actualization of this vision for the institution.

    In demonstrating his abhorrence to fraud of any sort, whether academic or financial, Professor Akpagu never spared staff or students of the institution fingered in acts inimical to the progress of the university, as he implemented all decisions of panels of inquiries on such matters or recommendations of the university management on erring staff.

    At least, within a short time in office, the VC has sacked two lecturers for academic plagiarism and the former university bursar Mr. Peter Agi for allegations of series of official malfeasance, including criminal impersonation of the Vice Chancellor on the financial transactions of the university.

    Commenting on the case of the pro-plagiarism lecturers, Akpagu thundered, “This administration that I am leading has zero tolerance for indiscipline on the part of lecturers, non- teaching staff and students. We want to make a difference. So, we are not ready to tolerate indiscipline, be it forgery, plagiarism, exam malpractice, stealing, rape and other vices.

    He has vowed against delayed convocation and since he took over, the university convocates timely as the next convocation ceremony for graduates of the last academic session is underway.

    As former dean of students’ affairs, his instant response to problems of students has forever endeared him to students. His no-nonsense posture and the overall entrenchment of peace and industrial harmony in the university has earned him the appellation of “Mr. Change.”

    While insisting on standards, Professor Akpagu discharges his responsibilities diligently, with the fear of God, and would not compromise on ethical values which crucially reshapes society. He is loved and adored across the various segments of the university community. Rarely do staff and students wholeheartedly accept the leadership of universities such as Vice Chancellors. But Akpagu has crossed this ribicon as even students rise in support of him against forces bent on resisting the change he has implanted in the university.

    Professor Akpagu’s administrative dexterity is an accumulation of years of leadership experience as former Commissioner for education in Cross River State under Governors, Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke; as member, Unical Governing Council, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and also a member of the University Senate and eventually DVC.

    His Obudu community celebrated him with the conferment of the chieftaincy title of “Ushikebe 1 of Ipong”. He is also the “otebeche 1 of yala” and “ntufam amid ejagam 1” of the qua nation. And in spite of the rigours of academics and burden of administration, Professor Akpagu devotes time to his religious actives. He is a Knight of the Order of Saint Mulumba (KSM) in the Catholic Church and has subscribed to numerous learned societies including the Association for the Study of Caribbean and African Literature in French (ASCALF), Britain.

    At last redemption has berthed in Unical and Professor Akpagu is the armour bearer of the message of redemption laced in the mantra of change as propagated and espoused by President Buhari. With this much zeal and push to succeed, it is certain that after five years, under Akpagu as VC , Unical will exude visible, unprecedented splendor on all fronts.
    Agbese is the Publisher, The Nigerian Online Newspapers

  • UNICAL and the triumph of change

    By: Nkechi Odoma

    For most Nigerians, President Muhammedu Buhari’s (PMB) mantra of “change” in attitudes and behavioral dispositions in private homes, offices and elsewhere is a mere slogan and more like a sound of distant echoes.

    Those who benefit immensely from the old, corrupt order of handling official business in Nigeria are most stoutly opposed to this #ChangeBeginsWithMe.

    Professor Zana Akpagu the Vice Chancellor (VC) of University of Calabar (UniCal) seemed caught up in this web of oddities in his dogged attempts to run the institution transparently for positive results.

    Since his assumption to office last year, his desire to instill financial discipline, transparency and accountability in the administration of the varsity instantly and expectedly pitched him against the university Bursar, Mr. Peter Agi.

    It is clear that Agi who had operated as a bursar in the university for years was perceptively too glued to the old “smart” ways of milking government establishments and could not condone preachments to discard such backward habits.

    So, campaigns for financial sanity and the aversion for official laxity crusaded by Prof. Akpagu berthed at the ex-bursar’s doorstep and the only natural option was to frustrate and resist it.

    But like a lone sailor on the high sea, Agi’s resistance to “change” also eclipsed any sympathy for him from the disparate segments of the university community which he had administered like an emperor.

    When Agi’s unholy interface with the VC became an open conflict, the university management first suspended him and eventually commuted the suspension to termination of appointment after an inquest into his official dealings.

    And of all groups within the university environment, it was a segment of students that Agi, who was accused of high-handedness, negligence, impersonation and other acts of malfeasance, hired to stage a protest in his support.

    But the ex-bursar got it all wrong. His rented supporters were simultaneously and massively countered by another set of students genuinely convinced about the accusations on him. And almost all workers in the varsity also poured out in numbers to give fillip to the anti-Agi protests, and register their resentment.

    Not satisfied, embattled Agi approached the National Industrial Court sitting in Calabar to challenge his suspension and eventual sack by the institution.

    Justice Nneka M. Esowe dismissed Agi’s suit as premature, following his refusal to comply with the internal dispute resolution mechanisms as spelt out by University of Calabar Law no. 80 of 1979.

    By implication, just like there is no hiding place for a bad soul, Agi lost both head and tail.

    The point must not be missed that the ex-bursar immersed himself into the mess because of greed and haughtiness serviced by impunity. When the heat became too much for him to bear, he resorted to the tricks of blackmail and counter-accusations against his superior officer and Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Akpagu.

    But till date, the ex-bursar has not as much as convinced even a student to back him anymore. Even those he rented with money have shunned and deserted him.

    He has dumped himself in a circle as the court has directed him to face the internal conflict resolution mechanism of the university. He had earlier turned down appearance before a panel set up by the university management to clear himself over allegations of fraud and embezzlement of the university funds under the pretext that the case was in court.

    Curiously though, why should Mr. Peter Agi, a principal officer of the university, who handles a sensitive duty, such as the administration of the university finances, be so ignorant or chose to ignore the varsity’s internal laws which is the first point of adjudication over an internal matter, but preferred to rush to court?

    As testimony of a man caged by his own traps, Agi approached two court of concurrent jurisdiction over the same matter. He took his case to the National Industrial Court, Calabar and also approached the same court in Uyo.

    What was the intention of stampeding the courts with the same case? It confirms the actions of a guilty mind, which pursues everything at sight in the hope of getting succour.

    A peep into Agi’s official malfeasance as decided by the panel instituted by university management reveal an intolerable level of official negligence, absenteeism, official snobbery and glaring attempts to defraud the institution laced in criminal acts such as impersonation of the VC, who is the Chief Accounting officer of the university by consenting to the varsity’s final financial approvals outside the gamut of his official powers.

    He frustrates payment of TETFUND contractors, even after completion of jobs, certifications issued and payments approved.

    UniCal Registrar, Mr. Moses Abang, in a letter conveying the termination of Mr. Peter Agi’s appointment lucidly stated thus: “Management observed that you have been impersonating the vice-chancellor on the CBN e-payment platform by making final approvals and payments, a duty that is the responsibility of the Vice Chancellor, who is the Chief Accounting Officer of the university.

    “Again, you absented yourself from office without requesting any of your deputies to act for you, thus creating a vacuum in the administration of the Bursary.”

    But all Agi could muster courage to do was to incite a segment of students and cash-and-carry Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), operating under some funny strange identity as League of Civil Society Organizations to issue a watery statement at a Press Conference in Abuja alleging excesses on the part of Akpagu and invoking neglect of some sort of due process in the termination of the ex-bursar’s appointment.

    Agreed that the Akpagu hijacked the professional and legal powers of the sacked Bursar as argued by the pro-Agi campaigners through the retention of the consultant for the collection of the university’s levies, why was Agi opposed to the retention? Had he just found the consultants unworthy and incapable under the tenure of Professor Akpagu?

    The former bursar had worked with the consultant for years under an era in Nigeria where corruption was celebrated and rewarded. Therefore, Agi was gripped by the phobia of exposure of his shady deals, upon the emergence of Akpagu as Vice Chancellor, since he preaches transparency and accountability in running the affairs of the university.

    Within the academic community, Agi has lost every strand or voice of support.

    It means he had operated like a demigod in the institution, but the preceding VC Prof. James Epoke consented to his excesses until Akpagu, widely admired on campus with the sobriquet of “Mr. Change” came on board and decided to check his official impunity and sleaze.

    Throughout the interface with the VC, voices of angst and resentment have swelled against the ex-bursar, who has transformed into a thug.

    He threatened the life of his subordinate worker as disclosed in a petition alleging threat to life sent to the police in Calabar by the protocol officer of the University, Mr. Godwin Nyiam.

    And the crux of the matter in this instance too, also revolved around some alleged improper financial dealings connected with office of the bursar which the petitioner was privy.

    It is more discerning or proper to guess why Agi wanted to discharge the former consultants and appoint new ones against the advice of his boss.

    UniCal cannot ground to a halt by the wishes of Mr. Bursar. The fate and destiny of thousands of students seeking knowledge in the university depends on the excellent functionality of the university and Agi and his cohorts cannot be allowed to frustrate it.

    But Prof. Akpagu should neither be deterred nor distracted in fighting corruption to enthrone sanity in the university.

    And the banal arsenals of blackmail and the failed trial in court of public opinion as manifested by Agi and his gang are the numerous ways corruption fights back and they are known to all. Akpagu should not deviate from the template set by President Buhari at the federal level.

    The President himself is also receiving the same missiles from these anti-progressive elements, who have become paranoid to the extreme of wishing him dead.

    Mr. President is canvassing for the restoration of strong public institutions as against all-powerful individuals, as portrayed by Mr. Peter Agi who flouts official directives with impunity and runs the institution’s bursary department like his personal fiefdom and thinks crying foul when he is relieved of his job would cleanse him of the sins.

    A Vice Chancellor whose actions and policies inspire both students and workers to massively rise in his defence is really an asset anywhere because it is not easy to influence any of these interests groups in the university community to back your cause. It is the triumph of the “change”mantra over evil.
    Odoma is a public affairs commentator and contributed this piece from Calabar.