BEHOLD THE GOLDEN VICE CHANCELLOR, PROF. FLORENCE BANKU OBI
Anthony Ekpo Bassey
"Women are the real architects of society." Harriet Beecher Stowe
The golden jubilee celebration of the University of Calabar
(UNICAL) must have come and gone but the rippling effect and impact of that celebration, still reverberate in our city and memory. The event which was unprecedented in the history of the 50 years institution was grand and glamourous and happened during the reign and rule of the first female Vice
Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Florence Banku Obi.
Florence, as her name suggests, has been known to flourish in
public life which includes public offices and public assignments.
Those who know her, know that she is a record breaker. Fortune and grace have always accompanied her and she has recorded several firsts in her life. It is no longer news that Prof. Florence Obi is the first female Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar.
This is an inerasable history. Before now and since the institution was founded, the position of the Vice Chancellor was dominated and occupied by the male gender for 45 years. When Florence showed up, the star shone brightly on her forehead and the sun brightened her path to the exalted position.
What a record breaker! Since she assumed office, she has built and commissioned several lecture halls, hostels, multipurpose buildings and a lot of other projects to her name and credit. Let this be a story for another day.
Founded in 1975, the University of Calabar turned 50, this year. Consequently, the ebullient and effervescent Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, in an unprecedented manner, opened the gate of the ivory tower to men and
women from all walks of life including the academia, businessmen, politicians, traditional class, and alumni of the great institution.
For the alumni, it was really a home-coming and memorable event.
The week-long event stimulated nostalgic memories of the
good old days. For the existing students, it was an inspiring and hope rekindling moments.
Seeing those before them achieved success in their
respective endeavours, gave them the assurance that the future was bright. For those who long to pursue their academic dreams, in the university, it was reassuring that nowhere else was better than the prestigious University of Calabar.
In sum, the golden celebration summarised the past, captured the present and pointed to the beautiful future ahead. The university had expressed it thus; "Join us as we honour our past, celebrate our present, and shape the future together."
Besides, the week-long celebration increased traffic to the city
of Calabar through road, air and water routes. Throughout the period, the transportation, food, and hospitality sectors of the state enjoyed immense patronages and those behind them smiled comfortably to the bank as if it were a festive season.
One would wish that the managers of those sectors would return to offer at least, a word of appreciation to Florence and her team.
Away from that, the event was grand and glamourous. Officials of the University of Calabar taught us how to appreciate our heroes and heroines.
This is one of the ingredients we lack in this country. I was particularly pleased at the renaming of the former registry building in honour of the institution's pioneer Registrar, late Dr. Onofiok Ufot.
The statement from the university read: "Though he may no longer be physically present, his work, ideals, and values remain deeply woven into the fabric of UNICAL." What a
beautiful way to appreciate the labour of a dutiful servant, long gone.
This will inspire in the present staff and students the sense and duty of humility, honesty and hard work.
I also committed to memory, the investiture of emeritus professorship to professors; Ekanem Ikpi Braide, Chris Nwamuo and Eme Efiom Osim.
This is a strong indication that the university under Florence's watch and leadership appreciates and validates scholarship at a time many young people think of education as a slow way to achieving success in today's world.
Those so honoured, have made invaluable and incontestable
contributions to scholarships in their respective academic fields.
Ekanem Ikpi Braide is of the Faculty of Biological Sciences. Chris Nwamuo is of the Faculty of Arts and Eme Efiom Osim is of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.
With the investiture of emeritus professorship on those deserving dons, the university has again proven that teaching is not a thankless job.
The honour is
really befitting. Apart from scholarship, the trio had at different times held various academic and administrative positions and exercised great leadership at the University of Calabar, where they spent the most of their years in teaching and researching.
The 37th convocation of the University of Calabar also held during the period. It was reported that "a total of 13,647 students graduated, with 66 receiving First Class honours, including 181 Diploma recipients, 11,725 Bachelor's degrees, 876 Master's degrees, 572 doctoral degrees, 249 Postgraduate Diplomas and seven Postdoctoral Diplomas in education." Great!
The convocation lecture was delivered by an alumnus of the
University, H/E Benjamin Kalu (CON), Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives.
He pledged to uphold the discipline and legacy instilled in him by his alma mater. Also worthy of note during the period, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, pledged to donate a convocation arena to the University of Calabar, to Mark its 50th anniversary.
He said: "It is not right that we do our convocation under
canopies. It is not good for our image and dignity, something needed to be done. So, when the university presented this before me, I said yes, and I decided to partner with the institution to fix this convocation arena." He said.
It is imperative to state that the Governor of Cross River State,
His Excellency, Ntufam Bassey Edet Otu, FCT Minister, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio and three others, were conferred with the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph) honoris Causa degree. The
event was indeed, great and good.
This article will be incomplete, if I fail to acknowledge the
co-operation and supporting roles of the Emir of Kano and Chancellor, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the Pro-Chancellor (DIG) Udom Ekpo Udom(rtd), as well as other members of management and governing council of the university, who were
visibly present and must have played active roles behind the scenes, to make the event a historic one. The golden jubilee of the University of Calabar, made news.
I cannot wait to own and read a copy of the book that was launched to mark the university's 50th anniversary.
In sum, that event exposed the energy, elegance and excellence that define the personality of Florence Banku Obi.
She seems to excel at every given task, assignment and position. "The reward for hard work" they say, "is more work."
One would not be surprised if a higher
assignment at the national or international level beckons at her after a fruitful and flourishing tenure as the Vice Chancellor of the prestigious University of Calabar.
Anthony Ekpo Bassey, PhD, is the Executive Editor of The Beagle News
