BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The new Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UniCal), Professor Offiong Effanga Offiong has pledged that his administration will uphold due process in employment opportunities, staff promotion and admission policy.
He has also called for unity and support from all stakeholders, promising to remain a servant leader to both the students and the entire university community.
Prof Effanga Offiong, who institution’s 12th Vice Chancellor since its inception in 1975, gave the assurance while unfolding his administration policy thrust at a meeting with the Southern Cross River Academia (SOCRA).
He charged the staff to brace up for the challenges ahead as the new administration is focused on ensuring UniCal ranks among the top echelon of academic citadels in the country.
According to him, the task ahead is enormous and it requires all hands to be on deck if the University must truly become the bastion of learning where its graduates are found worthy in character and learning.
He said the University is proud of its products as since inception with most of them demonstrating resilience and strong characters as true Ambassadors, making pacesetting marks in positions of authority and in the corridors of power.
In his remarks, the UniCal Chapter Chairman of Southern Cross River Academia (SOCRA), Professor James Ekpenyong Okon pledged their loyalty and support to the new Vice Chancellor, Prof Offiong Effanga Offiong whom they referred to as one of their prominent and respectable members.
He said having keenly followed the political dynamics that engulfed the selection process of the Vice Chancellor, SOCRA took solace in their faith in the Almighty God who is the greatest arbiter.
The body listed several directorates, faculties and units in the institution that require the appointment of Departmental Heads who would join hands with the Vice Chancellor in his drive to create impact, excellence, and sustainable development in the University.
Meanwhile, the new Vice Chancellor says the grace of God in his life is absolutely responsible for his elevation to the exalted office.
Speaking shortly after his investiture as the 12th Vice Chancellor of the University at the Godswill Akpabio International Convention Centre, UNICAL, Prof Offiong said: “Today, I stand before you to proclaim that my life has not been anything short of the glory of God. So today, I give all glory to God for the privilege of standing before you here as the 12th Vice Chancellor of our great University of Calabar.
“Only He, my God who knows the end from the beginning, could have done this, and I am deeply grateful.”
Offiong, who described the ceremony as a peaceful transfer of the mantle of leadership of the University, said, “it is a rarity in many universities, a practice our university will continue to uphold”.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the Chairman and members of the Governing Council of the University for the confidence they have in him and the opportunity to serve at a pivotal moment of the history of the institution.
Also noting that his emergence of as the University’s 12th Vice Chancellor was remarkable given uniqueness of the number in biblical occurrences, Prof Offiong said, “And for those of you who don’t know what the number 12 means, some of us who are Christians could remember that there might have been many disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, but 12 were recognised. And you have 12 tribes of Israel.”
Highlights of the ceremony, which attracted many dignitaries from all sectors, was the new Vice Chancellor’s swearing-in and handing over the staff of office by the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Obi.
