The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UNICAL

  • UNICAL to sanction HODs who delay students’ results, violate varsity rules

    UNICAL to sanction HODs who delay students’ results, violate varsity rules

    The University of Calabar has threatened to sanction any Head of Department (HOD) who arbitrarily delays students’ results or violates the laws guiding the institution.

    The warning was conveyed in a release signed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, and obtained by our reporter.

    Meanwhile, the University has also approved the appointment of Dr. Ukam Ivi Ngwu as the new acting Head, Department of Journalism and Media Studies in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.

    The appointment of Dr Ukam is for a period of two years at the first instance, with effect from 1st January 2026 to 31st December 2027.

    By the appointment, Dr. Ngwu is expected to discharge his duties diligently by effectively administering the department to ensure optimal productivity.

    The release also states that the Prof. Offiong administration will not hesitate to sanction any Head of Department who fails to turn in results within the given timeline or who breaches University regulations.

  • Sexual harassment: Suspended UNICAL Law professor gets five-year jail term

    Sexual harassment: Suspended UNICAL Law professor gets five-year jail term

    • Court acquits co-defendant

    After about a year and half of standing trial, a Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted the suspended Law Professor at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cyril Ndifon, of sexual harassment.

    Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment yesterday, held that the prosecution established its case against Ndifon, described as the Dean of Faculty of Law, UNICAL, and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.

    Justice Omotosho was of the view that the prosecuting agency, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), proved the offences in counts one and two beyond reasonable doubt against the first defendant (Ndifon).

    He held that the prosecution was able to prove the ingredients of the offences in counts one and two.

    The judge noted that Ndifon was unable to contradict the evidence that he unduly pressured TKJ to perform the immoral act with her.

    He said: “The victim was desirous of being admitted into the university and the first defendant was in advantage to help her being the dean and the diploma course is under his supervision,

    Read Also: Agriculture as tool for economic recovery

    “The instances of undue advantage are so much. The first defendant abused his office,” the judge said.

    Justice Omotosho observed that Ndifon was not a witness of truth and could not be believed by any reasonable court.

    “Consequently, the 1st defendant is hereby convicted of count one and count two,” he said.

    Justice Omotosho said since Ndifon was a first-time offender, he was minded to temper justice with mercy as requested by Ndifon and his lawyer, Oladimeji Ekengba.

    The judge sentenced him to two years in respect of count one and five years’ imprisonment in relation to count two, which sentences the judge said should run concurrently.

    Justice Omotosho, however, discharged and acquitted the second defendant, Sunny Anyanwu. Anyanwu once served as one of Ndifon’s lawyers.

    Anyanwu was later charged with his former client on an amended charge, with allegation that he attempted to pervert the course of justice by calling a prosecution witness.

    As it relates to the case against Anyanwu, Justice Omotosho said the prosecution failed to link the offences in counts three and four in which his name appeared, to him.

    On count three, the judge said he observed that although Anyanwu made a phone call to TKJ, this was about four months before the investigation commenced into the case and a charge preferred against Ndifon.

    He said the court could not assume or speculate the intention of the second defendant at the time the act was committed.

    Justice Omotosho, therefore, discharged and acquitted Anyanwu of counts three and four.

    The judge berated Ndifon for his immoral conduct and condemned Anyanwu’s unprofessional act in calling a supposed witness in his client’s trial.

    Justice Omotosho said: “It was with dismay that I read through this case that a Dean of Law can turn himself into a sexual predator.”

    He said Ndifon’s randy nature should be condemned by all.

    The judge said the Law professor is a disgrace to the community of learner persons and must be made to face the wrath of the law.

    He noted that Ndifon’s case would serve as a deterrent to others like him in public offices, who have the penchant for taking undue advantage of the female folks.

    In the amended charge, Ndifon was accused in counts one and two of harassing some female students of the school sexually.

    The ICPC claimed that Ndifon, while serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL, asked a female Diploma student, identified as TKJ and a star witness, to send him “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself” through WhatsApp chats.

    He was also alleged to have, on different occasions, asked TKJ to give him “a blow job” as an exchange for gaining admission into the institution to study law.

    Ndifon, a public officer, was alleged to have sexually harassed many female students of the institution using his position to gain undue advantage over them.

    While count three was preferred solely against Anyanwu, the two defendants were accused of attempting to influence the course of justice in count four of the charge.

  • Sexual harassment: UNICAL Prof knows fate November 17

    Sexual harassment: UNICAL Prof knows fate November 17

    Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 17 for judgment in the sexual harassment case against the suspended Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Professor Cyril Ndifon.

    Justice James Omotosho fixed the date at Tuesday’s proceedings after lawyers to parties made their final submissions and adopted their final written addresses.

    Ndifon is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) along with his former lawyer, Sunny Anyanwu on a four-count amended charge.

    The two are accused of alleged sexual harassment, cybercrime and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

    Read Also: Explainer: How Nigeria can qualify for 2026 World Cup

    The prosecution alleged that Ndifon, while serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at UNICAL, asked the female Diploma student (whose identity was shield) to send him “pornographic, indecent and obscene photographs of herself” through WhatsApp chats.

    It later amended the charge and added Anyanwu as the second defendant upon an allegation that he called the prosecution’s star witness on her mobile phone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threaten her.

    The prosecution, represented by Osuobeni Akponimisingha, closed its case on February 14, 2024 after calling four witnesses, following which the defence Fanta made a no-case submission, which the court overruled in a ruling delivered on March 6, 2024.

    Justice Omotosho, in the ruling, held that the prosecution was able to establish a prima facie case against the two defendants to require them to enter a defence.

    The judge then, ordered Ndifon and Anyanwu to enter their defence, which they later

  • UNICAL clinical lecturers down tools over VC selection

    UNICAL clinical lecturers down tools over VC selection

    Clinical lecturers at the University of Calabar have commenced indefinite withdrawal of their services over what they describe as deliberate exclusion from the ongoing selection process for the institution’s next Vice Chancellor.

    The decision conveyed in a letter dated 13th June 2025 and addressed to the Vice Chancellor was issued under the auspices of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), University of Calabar Teaching Hospital chapter. 

    The group said its members have been unjustly disenfranchised following the publication of an advertorial in a national newspaper on May 27, 2025, which it claims effectively bars clinical lecturers from applying for the top job.

    According to the letter, signed by MDCAN Chairman Dr. Patience Odusolu and Secretary Dr. Ehiosun Aigbomian, the group had earlier submitted memos to the University’s Governing Council on June 2 and June 9, demanding a retraction of the advertorial and the issuance of an inclusive notice. However, they said the Council failed to respond.

    “The continued silence and inaction by the Governing Council is a breach of our fundamental rights to aspire for the position of Vice Chancellor,” the lecturers stated, adding that three weeks had already passed since the advert was released, effectively reducing the application window and denying them equal opportunity.

    Read Also: Ex-minister inducted into UNICAL’s Hall of Fame

    In protest, the clinical lecturers declared that total and indefinite withdrawal of their academic services has commenced, pending the withdrawal of the original advert, publication of a new inclusive one, and extension of the application deadline to accommodate all qualified candidates.

    They also demanded the immediate suspension of the ongoing selection process.

    The protest letter has been copied to key education authorities including the Minister of Education, the National Assembly’s Education Committees, the Pro-Chancellor, the Registrar of the University, and professional medical bodies such as the Nigerian Medical Association and MDCAN national leadership.

    At the University of Uyo, the MDCAN has issued a strongly worded petition to the Governing Council, protesting a similar advert published on May 29, which also mandates a PhD for applicants. 

    In their letter, signed by Dr. Ibiok Usendiah (Chairman) and Dr. Solomon Bassey (Secretary), the association condemned the criteria as deliberately exclusionary and impractical.

    The union gave the Governing Council a two-week ultimatum ending July 1, 2025, to act or face the resumption of its suspended industrial action.

    They aggrieved clinical lecturers noted that postgraduate medical fellowships, achieved after an additional 6 to 7 years of specialized training serve as the standard academic qualification for clinical lecturers and are endorsed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Federal Ministry of Education. 

    The group also criticised requirements in the advert for at least ten journal publications in the past two years and 20 years of uninterrupted teaching, which they described as impractical and “punitive, especially for academics who have taken sabbaticals, study leave, or secondments.

    Complicating matters at UNIUYO is a recent leadership vacuum. MDCAN revealed that the Pro-Chancellor initially appointed to lead the process, Major General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd.), declined the role. 

    In his absence, Prof. Hauwa Biu reportedly served as Acting Chairperson of the Governing Council and oversaw the release of the now-disputed advert.

    The MDCAN chapter warned that if the advert is not withdrawn and revised to accommodate both PhD and Fellowship holders, they may be forced to resume their previously suspended strike. 

    The union noticed a seemingly possible national pattern of disenfranchisement, citing similar incidents at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, where an exclusionary selection process reportedly triggered unrest and required presidential intervention. 

    They, however, also pointed to federal institutions like Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Benin as examples of best practice, where inclusive VC selection criteria have been adopted.

    “Agitations against discrimination of Medical Doctors in the conventional universities has led to the recent creation of Universities of Health Sciences in the country with Medical Doctors as Vice Chancellors while Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) has been created to cater for the needs of Medical Doctors still teaching in conventional universities as ASUU appeared not to be protecting our interests. 

    “Agitations for the carving out of Colleges of Health Sciences from conventional universities to form autonomous Universities of Health Sciences with their own Vice Chancellors may begin to gather steam in view of all these discriminatory policies by the Governing Councils against Medical Doctors. 

    “We wish to use this medium and appeal to you to use your good offices and address these discriminatory policies that were churned out by the Governing Council before your appointment so as to accommodate all sectors of the academia within the next two weeks before expiration of the six weeks advertisement period.  

    “Our Association will convene on the 1st of July 2025 to review developments and 

    take appropriate actions. 

    “We cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the University if these discriminatory policies are not reversed bearing in mind that our strike action that was suspended by the Nigerian Medical Association to allow the University Management to address some pressing issues is still active,” the letter reads in part. 

  • UNICAL confers doctoral degree on Akpabio’s wife

    UNICAL confers doctoral degree on Akpabio’s wife

    Wife of the Senate President, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio, was on Saturday, conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management by the University of Calabar, as part of the activities to celebrate its golden anniversary.

    The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law. 

    Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).

    In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.

    A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong, quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying: “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution. 

    “I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.

    She promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.

    In a citation, the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative. 

    She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance. 

    On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.

  • Wike bags UNICAL Honorary degree in Law

    Wike bags UNICAL Honorary degree in Law

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law by the University of Calabar. 

    The prestigious award was conferred on him by the university’s Chancellor, Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

    Wike’s honorary doctorate degree is part of the university’s 37th convocation ceremony, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.

    His Honorary Doctorate degree was contained in a video by his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, March 22.

    The caption reads: “FCT Minister,  Nyesom Wike,  being conferred with Honorary Doctorate in Law of the University of Calabar,  by the University’s Chancellor,  Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.”

  • Deputy Speaker pledges support for education initiatives as UNICAL clocks 50

    Deputy Speaker pledges support for education initiatives as UNICAL clocks 50

    …VC decorates Deputy Speaker as Ambassador

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has pledged unwavering support for initiatives aimed at advancing education in Nigeria. He emphasized that education is pivotal to shaping the nation’s future.

    Kalu made this commitment during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Banku Obi. 

    The delegation included the Provost of the Post-Graduate School and Chairman of the UNICAL at 50 Organizing Committee, Professor Enyong Ubana, as well as the immediate past Registrar and Secretary of the UNICAL at 50 Committee, Mr. Gabriel Egbe, among others. 

    The visit took place at Kalu’s office at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday.

    The delegation informed the Deputy Speaker about the university’s upcoming 50th anniversary and convocation lecture while conveying the decision of the organizing committee to appoint him as the guest lecturer.

    Read Also: Barron Trump: Meet Trump’s 18-year-old son who played crucial role in winning youth vote

    Reflecting on his days at UNICAL, Kalu credited the institution for instilling in him values of hard work, competition, and patriotism, which shaped his character and prepared him for nation-building.

    “As Deputy Speaker, I recognize the critical role that education plays in shaping the future of our nation. I am dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote access to quality education, and I believe that UNICAL is uniquely positioned to lead in this effort,” Kalu said.

    He continued, “I am proud to have been shaped by this institution, and I am committed to partnering with UNICAL to advance the cause of education in Nigeria.

    My favorite Vice Chancellor, favorite because few women occupy such leadership positions, is leading by example, and I support her efforts.”

    Kalu expressed gratitude for the transformative impact the university had on his life, stating: “We were taught to be the best, to compete in everything, and to give it all the energy it requires. We were taught to avoid corruption, which is what I have brought into leadership. 

    “We were taught to be patriotic, proud Nigerians. Today, in the National Assembly, we are pushing forward. Whatever we achieved at UNICAL was through hard work, and that spirit has guided us in the workplace.”

    In a significant gesture, the Vice Chancellor decorated Kalu as an ambassador of the university. 

    In response, Kalu vowed to uphold the discipline and legacy instilled in him by UNICAL, where he is currently pursuing a doctorate in law.

    He revealed that his admiration for UNICAL students’ achievements inspired him to sponsor various awards to encourage young law students. 

    “I’m inspired by the achievements of UNICAL’s students, such as the law students who recently benefited from awards sponsored by me. These include awards for Best Student in Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Company Law, Commercial Law, Law of Evidence, and Constitutional Law,” he stated.

    Kalu urged the university to actively contribute to the ongoing constitutional review by conducting quality research on key issues, including state policing. 

    He also assured his full participation in the university’s 50th anniversary and convocation events.

    “We believe in what you’re doing. I want to thank you for making me an ambassador, a role I accept wholeheartedly, and for choosing me to speak at the convocation and anniversary events. I will be part of the celebrations from start to finish. Let’s work closely to achieve the goals of the anniversary.

    “I look forward to collaborating with the university to build a brighter future for our nation. Please convey my warmest regards to the university community and let them know we are committed to improving the lives of young Nigerians who come to study. We stand by them and will always stand by them,” Kalu affirmed.

    Earlier, in their remarks, Professor Florence Obi and Professor Enyong Ubana lauded Kalu as a shining example of UNICAL’s contributions to national development. They described him as one of the university’s greatest gifts to the nation.

    “One of the gifts our university has given the nation is His Excellency. There are others, but you are one of the ambassadors of the University of Calabar. Today, we are here to formally decorate you as an ambassador of the university. We have carefully selected the most outstanding individuals,” Professor Obi said.

  • Nigeria’ll see changes with women in power – UniCal VC

    Nigeria’ll see changes with women in power – UniCal VC

    Prof. Florence Obi, the Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar (UniCal), says Nigeria will see more positive changes if women are given leadership positions.

    Obi said this at the weekend  in Calabar at the First National Conference and Roundtable of the Association of Female Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities.

    She said that as the nation elects two or three female governors, everyone would see the difference, adding that women are good managers of human and material resources.

    The Vice Chancellor said that she was not referring to women that lacked capacity, but those who merited the opportunity but discriminated against because of their gender.

    According to her, the conference becomes necessary for them to mentor young women in education governance and also encourage them to aspire to any position they desire in academics, politics and other spheres.

    “Higher education governance has been in the hands of men since the days of University College, Ibadan, and as at today only about 40 women have been given the opportunity to lead institutions of learning, since the inception of university education in Nigeria.

    “From inception, we have had close to 500 or more men head such institutions. So, now that for the first time we are having 24 women serving as vice chancellors, we taught it wise to mentor other women to aspire for greatness,” she said.

    Obi said that being a female leader in a Nigerian university came with peculiar challenges, as some men did not believe that a woman should be on top.

    Obi said that they would also use the opportunity to network among themselves, which would open up more opportunities for the women.

    Read Also: FG retooling financial system to relieve Nigerians – Tinubu

    On her part, Prof. Lilian Salami, the Chairperson of the conference, said that women are dogged and gradually many organisations were picking women to head.

    Salami, who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UniBen), said the conference would also serve as a ground where women in academics get encouraged.

    She said that sharing experience was a significant method in mentoring more women to aspire to get to the peak of their educational pursuit.

    “We will share experiences to help other women surmount their challenges in their institutions.

    “The communiqué of this conference will not just end on the shelves, but would be used for the development of the nation’s universities,” she said.

  • UNICAL VC to deliver Bullion Lecture

    UNICAL VC to deliver Bullion Lecture

    Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Florence Obi, will on April 18 deliver this year’s edition of The Bullion Lecture at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The lecture’s theme is: ‘Human Capital Development as Catalyst for Nigeria’s Prosperity’.

    Prof. Obi has served as a commissioner at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. She was a member of Cross River State Executive Council.

    A statement yesterday by the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Financial Journalism in Lagos, Dr. Ray Echebiri, said the lecture would centre on the nation’s prosperity.

    Read Also:UNICAL and the 45 academic staff employed in 2019/2020

    “We are excited to have Prof. Obi, a human capital development expert, deliver the eight in The Bullion Lecture series on an issue that is central to our country’s prosperity,” the statement added.

    Echebiri said the lecture would be chaired by a first-rate scholar and human capital development expert, Prof. Ademola Tayo, the Vice Chancellor of Babcock University. He is also on the Governing Council of four universities – Adeleke University, Ede, Nigeria; Adventist University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya; Clifford University, Owerrinta, Nigeria and Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo.

  • ICPC lawyer not qualified to practice, Suspended UNICAL professor tells court

    ICPC lawyer not qualified to practice, Suspended UNICAL professor tells court

    Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the suspended Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Calabar (UNICAL), has told a Federal High Court, Abuja that Osuobeni Akponimisingha, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)’s counsel, was not qualified to practice as lawyer.

    Prof. Ndifon, through his lawyer, Joe Agi, SAN, made the allegation in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/511/2023 before Justice James Omotosho.

    The suspended dean, who alleged that Akponimisingha’s name was not on the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria pursuant to Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act, prayed the court to quashed the four-count charge against him and his co-defendant, Mr Sunny Anyanwu.

    In the motion dated and filed March 15, the senior lawyer told the court that the amended charge was incompetent as a result of the disputed identity of the anti-graft agency’s lawyer, and robbed the court of its jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

    Agi said he owed the court the duty to bring the alleged professional misconduct by Akponimisingha, as well as a breach of the law of the land, to the attention of the court as sworn to by him in his oath of declaration as Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    According to him, the amended charge was preferred by one Dr Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha a person whose name is not on the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria pursuant to Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act.

    “That Joshua E. Alobo who appears for the prosecution as counsel as a private legal oractitioner in a criminal case does not have the fiat of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation.

    “That both Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha and Joshua E. Alobo answer in this court and caused to print on their processes the title “Dr.” “Professor” when they do not have the academic qualifications to show for the titles, thereby misrepresenting themselves to the public and bringing legal profession to ridicule and shame,” he alleged.

    Agi, therefore, sought an order striking out the amended charge in the case, having been incompetent and “preferred by a person whose name is not on the roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria pursuant to Section 2 of the Legal Practitioners Act and thus robbing this court of its jurisdiction.

    “An order of court striking out all the appearance of Joshua E. Alobo from the prosecution counsel for appearing as a private legal practitioner in a criminal case without the fiat of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation.

    “An order of court referring both Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha and Joshua E. Alobo to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for answering and caused to print on their processes the title ‘Dr’ and ‘Professor’ when they do not have the academic qualifications to show for the titles thereby misrepresenting themselves to the public and bringing legal profession to ridicule and shame.”

    Also in the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Anyanwu, he said the grant of the application would aid the cause of justice and also aid the mandates of the ICPC established to fight corruption in all sphere of our nation.

    Read Also: UNICAL and the 45 academic staff employed in 2019/2020

    According to him, it will be in the interest of justice to allow the reliefs sought having regard to the entire circumstances of this case.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ndifon was, on Jan. 25, re-arraigned alongside Anyanwu on an amended four-count charge bordering on alleged sexual harassment and attempt to perverse the cause of justice.

    Anyanwu, who is one of the lawyers in the defence, was joined in the amended charge filed on Jan. 22 by the ICPC on allegation that he called TKJ, the star witness, on her mobile telephone during the pendency of the charge against Ndifon to threatened her.

    (NAN)