Features: UNICAL Civil, Environmental Engineering Dept. Records Landmark Transformation Under Itam’s Leadership

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Calabar is experiencing one of its most remarkable periods of growth and stability and achievement.

This is largely attributed to the outstanding leadership of Engr. Daniel Hogan Itam (Ph.D.), a renowned environmental engineer and scholar of international repute.

Dr. Itam, a proud son of Cross River State, holds a master’s degree in Water and Environmental Engineering from the prestigious University of Surrey, England, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering.

These academic attainments, combined with years of research, field experience, and institutional service, have shaped his reputation as one of the university’s most dependable and visionary leaders. 

Currently serving as Head of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Engr. Itam has distinguished himself as a catalyst for academic excellence and structural reform. Through his disciplined leadership style, he has repositioned his department as one of the most efficient, student-oriented, and research-active units in the Faculty of Engineering.

However, his influence extends well beyond his primary department.

As the Faculty of Engineering continued to expand, the newly established Civil and Environmental Engineering Department faced critical accreditation challenges that could have derailed its academic progress and threatened its survival.

It was at this defining moment that Dr. Itam stepped forward with strategic leadership and technical expertise. Drawing on his deep understanding of accreditation standards and institutional frameworks, he guided the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department through rigorous documentation, facility upgrades, curriculum refinement, and staff capacity-building. 

His intervention proved timely and effective, ultimately securing full accreditation for the young department. This milestone not only stabilized the department but also placed it among the university’s fastest-growing and most promising programmes.

Today, the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering is widely regarded as one of the most enviable departments in the University of Calabar, a transformation that students, staff, and management credit to Engr. Itam’s dedication, foresight, and unwavering commitment to excellence.

His exceptional leadership has earned him multiple recognitions. In 2023, he was honoured with the Certificate of Meritorious Service Award as one of twenty-six outstanding lecturers at UNICAL. The award, personally endorsed by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Florence Banku Obi, celebrated his industriousness, high work ethic, and commitment to the university’s strategic goals.

On 15 March 2024, his name was again etched on the institution’s honour roll when he was listed among the Best 22 Lecturers in the university, a testament to his consistency and impact.

Most recently, in 2025, the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering received another prestigious honour when it was awarded as “one of the five best examination results administered departments of the year 2025.”

This recognition highlights the department’s exceptional academic performance and internal quality standards under Dr. Itam’s leadership.

The award citation acknowledges the department’s meritoriousness, industriousness, and dedication to duty in helping the university achieve its objectives. 

Beyond awards, colleagues describe him as a stabilizing force, a leader who combines intelligence with humility, firmness with empathy, and innovation with tradition. Students speak of him as a mentor genuinely invested in their success, often going the extra mile to provide guidance, academic support, and professional inspiration.

Under his influence, engineering education at UNICAL is witnessing a quiet but powerful evolution: facilities are improving, academic standards are rising, and student morale is increasing.

His leadership style reflects a belief that universities thrive not only through infrastructure but also through people who are motivated, informed, and empowered to produce results.

The transformation of the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department stands today as a living legacy of what focused, competent leadership can achieve.

As UNICAL continues to position itself for greater national relevance and international partnerships, voices across the campus agree that leaders like Engr. Daniel Hogan Itam are the pillars driving this progress forward.

His story is not just one of achievement; it is one of vision, resilience, and service. And in the Faculty of Engineering, his impact is only just beginning.