OPINION: HOW UNICAL VC, PROF FLORENCE OBI, BROKE THE YOKE AGAINST ALL ODDS
By Tony Nku Obi, Ph.D
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) was established in 1975 with full operations after being an appendage of University of Nigeria (UNN) with many faculties including Arts, Social sciences, medical and Allied Sciences, Computer Science, Law, Agriculture, Education, communication and media studies.
However, the University made as it produced first female Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Banku Obi, currently sitting on the 11th position.
Prof. Florence Obi’s emergence as the 11th, first female and the Golden VC in December 2020, which was a keenly contested VCship selection process, left the university community and the entire state astonished. Her breakthrough was unbelievable. The odds were against her, the heavy-weight and academic gladiators then saw her as just a contestant and gave her no chance.
But there is a popular aphorism that “whom God has blessed, no man can pull down or put asunder." Another biblical injunction has it that "power, authority and leadership comes from Yahweh". Therefore, one can say unequivocally that Prof Florence Obi was pre-destined and ordained to become UNICAL VC from time immemorial. And on assumption of office in 2020 as UNICAL helmsman, the substantive VC swung into action by ensuring that university of Calabar remained on top, visible and accessible in all strata. This Madam Vice Chancellor did by engaging in total transformation of the system. Top amongst others was, infrastructural development via the construction of numerous pavilions, large and mini-class rooms, equipment of laboratories and other academic theatre rooms, and also stretched into the renovation of administrative blocks and re-designing some blocks with befitting name tags of scholars who have paid their dues squarely in the University.
Above all, the establishment of the first college of Education (Prof Florence Banku Obi college of Education), in UNICAL with approved three faculties currently running their programmes. She also embarked on the construction and renovation of all the dilapidated roads within and outside campus for a serene and conducive atmosphere for academic learning. Females and males hostels also had a touch from Prof Florence Obi’s administration while some currently undergoing renovations.
Under Prof Obi watch, a good number of programmes got accreditation with mass communication department one of the greatest beneficiary, Today, it has metamorphosed into a full faculty, faculty of communication and media studies with six approved departments.
The university under Prof Obi’s leadership partnered with the World Bank in collaboration with the federal government for the installation of the biggest solar power farm that supplies UNICAL community 24 hours of electricity and by extension to the host communities. This has solved the perennial problem of power and increased staff and students output. The long decades of epileptic power supply by PHCN including other expenses are now a thing of the past.
As a visionary and purposeful leader, Madam VC did not lose sight of the importance of human capacity development as a good number of staff were trained and re-trained; both students and staff of the university were sponsored for training within and outside the country all aimed at boosting capacity and promoting the image and reputation of the institution globally in all endeavour.
To improve academic standard and curb sorting, Prof Obi made it compulsory that all results must be uploaded on record time for students to be abreast with their academic status per semester. It is also expedient to state that under her watch, inaugural lectures are presented three times a month as against previous administration in which inaugural lecture presentations were riddled with bureaucratic imbroglio.
She has also recorded another breakthrough on her list by winning the hosting right for UNICAL for the forthcoming Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) in 2026 despite the fact that she is leaving the seat in December, 2025 a demonstration of another transparent heart of hers.
Capping her tenure is federal government approval for employment of academic staff to bridge the shortage of staff gap in some departments.
Watchers of events in the university described the process as very transparent as all due process spelt out by federal government was followed accordingly starting with advertisement in some National dailies, then candidates applied online and successful candidates were invited for interview and screening exercise.
Today, successful candidates who made it during the interview have got their appointment letters and undergoing documentation. This also shows clear transparency, accountability just and a seamless process.
However, leadership does not come easy. And characteristics of an academic community with different categories of people and shades of opinion, Prof Florence Obi faced some challenges of paucity of funds, objective and scathing criticisms. But she was not deterred or discourage as she was determined to carry out her statutory obligations and in line with her campaign vision and mission statements and policies.
So as she bows out as the 11the Vice Chancellor of the Golden UNICAL, Mma can joyfully sleep with her two eyes closed with peace and tranquility, the VC by now feels fulfilled that she ran the race of leadership successfully and ready to hand over the baton to the next Vice Chancellor. And as she bows out, we can say, she came, saw and conquered. Your legacy will remain with us. This is how Prof Florence Banku Obi was able to break the yoke against all odds.
Congratulations our Dear amiable Vice Chancellor for running a good race. Mission, truly well ACCOMPLISHED.
Dr. Obi is a lecturer at the department of Mass Communication, University of Calabar
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