UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR AT 50: A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE AND SERVICE TO HUMANITY.
RACHAEL ESI
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) in Cross River State is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of academic excellence, innovation and community impacts. Under the theme "50 years of impactful knowledge and service to Humanity", the event celebrates the university's evolution from it's founding in 1975 to becoming one of Nigeria's premier academic institutions.
Briefing the press recently, the Vice Chancellor Prof, Florence Obi, stated that the institution moved from having only three faculties in 1975 when it was established, to running 21faculties,123 academic departments,50 years later. According to her, the theme, "50 years of impactful knowledge and service to Humanity" was adopted owing to the fact that the institution has gone through different phases since its establishment in 1975 with various contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor highlighted the contributions of past and present leaders, staff and students to the advancement of the university. Recently, she has presented awards to and in recognition and appreciation of outstanding alumni, academic and non-academic staff, as well as past Vice Chancellors of the University.
According to the Vice Chancellor, key activities planned for the university's golden jubilee include: the colloquium which already held in January 2025, an anniversary book presentation, an alumni reunion and homecoming, an anniversary lecture exhibition, award for fundraising dinner, naming of streets, faculties, hostels, and other buildings in the university. She went on to state that the university expect to achieve other goals during the 50th anniversary celebration which include development of sporting and recreational facilities for a successful hosting of Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) in 2026, commencement of the foundation work for a standard senate building befitting of a 50-year-old university as well as constructing a convocation arena for academic ceremonies.
