UNICAL Is 50, Ranks Among Top Research Institutions Globally, Says VC

By Benjamin GBOR

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar Professor Florence Obi says the institution has turned 50 and ranks among top research institutions globally.

Speaking on the UNICAL at 50 celebrations, she said the institution which was founded in 1975 has grown and matured into a world class institution with a student population of over 40,000 and a staff population of the students.

Professor Obi, who disclosed this in her office during a briefing to mark the flag off ceremony of the celebration of the institution's 50th anniversary, said the University has attracted over two hundred thousand dollars in research grants within the last one year.

According to her, the institution now has 21 academic facilities, 123 academic departments, a college of medical sciences, college of post graduate studies, 5 institutes and 4 centres.

She added that the over-arching goal of the ceremony is the promotion of excellence and the UNICAL brand.

The Vice Chancellor said: "Researchers from the institution have been contributing immensely to the development of the world at large and about 6 of them are among 2% of the world's scientists and researchers.

"Within the last one year alone, University of Calabar has been able to attract well over 200,000 dollars in research grants.

"That is they are doing very well otherwise we would not have attracted people funding their researches.

"When you are talking about global researchers in the world, UNICAL has about 6 of them and this is about 2% of the world's scientists and researchers.

"This means that our researches are being consumed by the public and some of our researchers also have patents", she said.