VC’s political ambition throws position open at UNICAL

From Nsa Gill, Calabar

The race for to choose the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has begun.

Some of the 11 requirements for the candidate include to:  “Be an acclaimed scholar who is a Professor of very high repute and must have published in academic journals that are both of national and international repute; have had a wide range of academic and administrative experience; be on the rank of professor for at least nine years by December 1, 2020; provide administrative leadership to a well-informed and articulate local academic community; and bee a fair-minded and dynamic individual with a reputation that is impeccable in his dealing with people at all levels; possess requisite and relevant managerial experience to be able to provide leadership to the University; and must not be more than 65 years of age by 1st December, 2020 .

Applicants were asked to submit their application in 30 copies within the next six weeks from the date of the publication of the advert published May 27, 2020 in The Nation.

Unlike in 2015 when the position was open to professors with seven years of professorial experience, this time they need nine years – probably in search of more mature professors, and to reduce the number of persons vying for the position, as speculated in some quarters.

The current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zama Akpagu is known to be eyeing the vacant Senatorial seat left late Senator Rose Oko who passed on two months ago in a London Hospital.

Akpagu is likely to be the first Vice-Chancellor who will be resigning to run for a political office. However, he is resigning only a few months to the end of his tenure – November.

It is expected that any time the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) comes out with a timetable for the Senatorial Bye-election for Cross River Northern Senatorial seat, Akpagu would resign subsequently in order to meet up with the 30 days before the election window for public office holders who want to hold elected office to resign.

Some names are being mentioned as those jostling to replace Akpagu in UNICAL. They include: Prof Offiong Offiong (Chemistry department); Prof. Ndiyo Ayara (Economics); Prof. Patrick Asuquo (Education Administration); Prof Francis Bisong (Geography); Prof Joseph Asor (Biological Science); Prof Eyong Ubana (English); Prof Benedict Ita (Chemistry); and, the only woman among them, Prof Anne Asuquo (Medical Microbiology). More names are expected to surface before the deadline.