12 Vie for UNICAL VC as Prof Duke Challenges Selection Process at Industrial Court

Jul 28, 2025 - 12:56
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12 Vie for UNICAL VC as Prof Duke Challenges Selection Process at Industrial Court

By Bassey BASSEY

The race for the Vice Chancellorship positions at University of Calabar (UNICAL) has continued to gather momentum as 12 candidates are said to have indicated interest for the plum job even as Professor Joseph Eyo Duke has challenged the selection processes at Industrial Court.   

Investigations by THE BEAGLE NEWS revealed that Prof. Eyong Ubana, Dean, Post Graduate College, Prof. Eyo Ita, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, Prof. Ayi Ayi, Prof. Benedict .I. Ita (all Chemistry) and Prof. Ndem Ayara (social science) has all submitted applications to contest the Vice Chanellorship position.

The above-named candidates have all swung into action and intensified lobby within and outside, displaying their credentials, mission and vision for the institution.

Recall that the Governing Councils of the institution had declared the position of Vice-Chancellors vacant in line with the provisions of the University (Miscellaneous Provisions) Decree No. 11 of 1993 (as amended), The UNICAL Council has commenced the process of filling the vacancy the University with effect from 1st December, 2025. The University of Calabar came into being in response to Decree No. 80 of 1979. Starting academic work in 1975.

The qualifications/requirements of candidates for the post of the VC include holding the rank of Professor for at least ten (10) years by December 1, 2025, must have a distinguished academic record with significant contributions to research and scholarship, and must have published in academic journals that are both of National and International repute.

Other requirements include having had a wide range of academic and administrative experience, be a fair-minded and dynamic individual with a reputation that is impeccable in his dealing with people at all levels, possess requisite and relevant managerial experience to be able to provide leadership to the University, enjoy certified excellent medical and mental health, be a person of proven probity and integrity, and be a tested and excellent manager of resources.

The statement signed by Dr. (Mrs.) Chukwuka I. Icha, Registrar and Secretary to Council, notes that candidates must not be more than 65 years of age at the time of assumption of office on December 1, 2025 and the Vice-Chancellor shall hold office for a single term of 5 years.

Meanwhile, Professor Joseph Eyo Duke has challenged the selection process for a new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) at the National Industrial Court, Calabar.

Accordingly the court directed all parties to maintain the status quo, refraining from any action that could jeopardise the fair hearing of the suit and fixed August 7, 2025 for hearing of the motion on notice at the Abuja Division. 

In Suit No. NICN/CA/40/2025 filed by Professor Joseph Eyo Duke, the claimant is challenging the advertisement published on 27 May 2025 which stipulated that applicants must possess at least 10 years of post-professorial experience.

Prof. Duke argued that this requirement emanated from an emergency council meeting held on 25 March 2025, which he described as “unlawful…that the criterion is rooted in a non-existent regulation”

The motion ex-parte, dated and filed on 21 July 2025, sought an interim injunction restraining UNICAL and its Governing Council from enforcing or acting upon the advertisement pending determination of the motion on notice. Upon hearing counsel to the claimant, Ubong Akpan, Esq., Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado granted an accelerated hearing of both the motion on notice and the substantive suit.

He also ordered the transfer of the matter to Abuja to be heard by a vacation judge. The Court directed all parties to maintain the status quo, refraining from any action that could jeopardise the fair hearing of the suit and fixed August 7, 2025 for hearing of the motion on notice at the Abuja Division.

However, contrary to news making the rounds, THE BEAGLE NEWS gathered authouritatively that there was no court order restraining the University and it's Governing Council from taking any further steps in the Vice-Chancellorship selection process pending determination of the motion.

The competent source hinted that even as the Counsel pleaded that the injunction be granted, the presiding Justice refused as they could not show cause while the selection processes should be stopped. The source said: “I was in court. I can tell you that there is no order of injunction. I don’t know where they got the news from.”