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Tag: UNICAL

  • UNICAL staff, students tackle health centre

    UNICAL staff, students tackle health centre

    The University of Calabar (UNICAL) Health Centre is the first port of call for indisposed staff and students. Students especially prefer the centre to the UNICAL Teaching Hospital (UCTH), which has more facilities. Members of the university community are worried that the centre is not living up to expectations. But management has allayed their fears, saying there is no cause for alarm. STANLEY UCHEGBU (Accounting) writes.

    How dependable is the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Health Centre? At its peak, the centre can attend to  more than 70 patients weekly. But to students, the service provided is nothing to write home about. They complain about the conduct of the personnel, some of who they accuse of extorting them.

    Located on the main campus, the facility caters to the medical needs of more than 20,000 members of the university community,  including staff and students. In recent times, the centre has become a beehive, as students flock there for sundry reasons.

    The centre has several departments, including radiology, pharmaceuticals and laboratory.  When CAMPUSLIFE visited the centre, everything seemed to be working  and the facilities, including an ambulance, appeared to be in good condition. The personnel were seen moving around to attend to patients.

    Besides students, the staff are also complaining about the services at the centre. Some are saying that the facility is not living up to expectations. Students, who spoke with CAMPUSLIFE, accused the nurses of not treating them well. They claimed that they were asked to pay for drugs and other services which are supposed to be free.

    Michael Umoh, a Public Administration student, said he was only given Paracetamol and vitamin C tablets to treat malaria. “The nurse, who attended to me, only gave me Paracetamol and vitamin C. Then, she told me to buy anti-malaria pills from the pharmacy. The drugs they prescribed to me were expensive,” Michael said.

    Medical Laboratory Science student Cynthia Ekeng, said: “I was rushed to the centre last year by the former Students’ Union Vice President, Akpan Inemesit, when I had fever. But, to my surprise, the nurses there told us they did not have drugs anymore; we had to go outside to get drugs.”

    The students also accused the  centre’s management of a professional misconduct. They said the personnel usually demanded patients’ registration cards before attending to them.

    Etim Bassey, a Political Science student, condemned the personnel’s behaviour, saying the centre has not lived up to expectation. He said: “They don’t have sufficient drugs to give patients. When students are rushed to the centre, they will demand registration card. How can a doctor, who is supposed to save lives be demanding for registration card in emergency cases? This is professional misconduct.”

    The centre’s director, Dr Eno Ebong dismissed the allegations, saying students were not being “truthful”.

    She said nobody would ask for a patient’s registration card during an emergency. Dr Ebong said it is the medical personnel’s duty to save life, stating that there were instances of non-students and non-staff being treated without medical cards.

    She said: “The first thing we usually do is to save life. We give referral to patients if it is a case we cannot handle. But, people have been taking advantage of this to benefit from our service. Two weeks ago, we arrested a man, who impersonated a 300-Level student. He could not point to a male hostel. We had to call security officers to detain him. How can a 300-Level student say he didn’t know where the school hostel is located?”

    Dr Ebong said the centre renders free medical service to all bonafide students, dismissing the allegation of professional misconduct against the personnel.

    She added: “We give priority to students who are on emergency and we render free medical care for bonafide students, even for some of them who are pregnant. Before now, the health needs of staff and students were paid for by the government, but when the National Health Insurance Scheme came on board in 2008, it took over the scheme but patients still need to pay 10 per cent of the price of drugs they are given. It is not all free. But, students’ registration is free.”

    The director said there were times the centre ran out of drugs, but added that since Prof. Zana Akpagu assumed office as Vice-Chancellor, the centre has been getting sufficient drugs.

    “As I speak to you, our pharmacy is stocked with sufficient drugs that will last for a whole session. The management does not waste time in approving anything concerning the medical centre. We don’t have any obsolete equipment. If you go into our wards, you will discover that a good number of beds have been provided for patients,” she said.

    Dr. Ebong said those with wrong opinion about the centre may not have visited there. She advised them to visit the centre and see things for themselves.

  • UNICAL inaugurates union leaders

    UNICAL inaugurates union leaders

    Members of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) Students’ Union Government (SUG) have been sworn in. The event was held at the New Senate Chamber and it attended by top management officials of the school led by the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Zana Akpagu.
    Chairman of the Calabar University Electoral Commission (CUECO), Dr Patrick Egaga, applauded the students for their maturity, saying the election that produced the incoming SUG leaders was rancor-free.
    Prof Akpagu commended the outgoing executive members for their resilience in promoting the students’ welfare. He advised the new union leaders to emulate their predecessors.
    The VC said: “I have a privilege to work with the Tete Ekpo-led SUG leadership. I am impressed by what they achieved and I enjoyed every meeting with them. I believe the students’ welfare should be the aim of Students’ Union, and this must be pursued with sense of responsibility.”
    The VC said the programmes of his administration were centered on students’ development, stressing that the management would continue to create conducive environment for learning. He urged the incoming union leaders to embrace dialogue if there is disagreement with the management.
    The outgoing president, Tete, urged his successor to continue with his programmes, promising to give support and contributions when needed.
    The highpoint was the oath-taking, which was administered by the school Legal Adviser, Mr Mannix Nyiam.
    After taking the oath as the union president, Joseph Daniel promised a rancour-free administration. He said: “Aluta spirit is not a spirit of violence but a spirit to do things in right way.”
    Dean, Students Affairs, Prof Felix Akpan, advised the union leaders to be good ambassadors of the institution, saying they needed to work harmoniously to have smooth tenure.
    Other members of the union executives include Vice President, Nkpoikana Abasi, General Secretary, Eugene Isong, Assistant General Secretary, Precious Ikunisi, Financial Secretary, Peace Ezenwa, Director of Welfare, Emmanuel Akpan, Director of Sports, Sunday David, Director of Social, Victor Iheanacho, and Director of Information, Michael Ikyar.

  • Abducted UNICAL staff quarters’ residents freed

    THE three kidnapped residents of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) staff quarters have regained their freedom.

    They were freed on May 12, 10 days after their abduction.

    They are Dr David Iniama, son of the Deputy Registrar of UNICAL Graduate School, Mr Bassey Iniama; as well as the wife and daughter of Dr Wilfred Ndifon, a teacher. The gunmen, invaded the quarters through the Qua River linking the campus with its host communities.

    Iniama said he was grateful to God for the “safe return” of his son. He thanked sympathisers, who stood by the family. He said: “We thank God that our loved ones have reunited with us. I have nothing much to say, but to give glory to God.”

    Iniama did not comment on whether ransom was paid. The Ndifon’s house was locked when our correspondent visited last Monday. None of the family members could be reached for comment. CAMPUSLIFE could not confirm if management played any role in the abductees’ release.

    The school has beefed up security around the staff quarters, following the incident. Security officials are now on constant patrol.

     

     

  • Registrar’s son, two others abducted at UNICAL staff quarters

    Registrar’s son, two others abducted at UNICAL staff quarters

    Three residents of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) staff quarters have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen, who invaded the campus through the Qua River that runs from the school to its host communities. The abductees are the registrar’s son, a lecturer’s wife and daughter. EMMANUEL SHEBBS (Graduate School), NNABIGET OKE, IDIONGESIT IMUK (300-Level Medicine and Dentistry) report.

    Located about two kilometres from the academic area, the University of Calabar (UNICAL) staff quarters enjoys a serene environment because of its proximity to the school farm and the Qua River. But, last Monday, its serenity was shattered when nine armed men invaded two houses. They abducted three residents and escaped through the river.

    The victims are Dr. David Iniama, the first son of the Registrar, Mr. Bassey Iniama; the wife and daughter of Dr. Wilfred Ndifon, a lecturer in the medical college.

    At the time of this report, the whereabouts of the abductees remained unknown and no word has been heard from their abductors.

    The registrar was not at home when the abductors struck. His wife was at a meeting with members of the Knight of Saint Mulumba (KSM). Dr Iniama’s was returning home when he ran into the gunmen.

    It was learnt that he was alighting from his car when two of the abductors came from behind and dragged him to a corner. As he struggled with the abductors, his mother, who heard his scream, peeped through the window and saw two men dragging him away. Mrs Iniama, it was gathered, raised the alarm and ran out.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the gunmen fired shots to scare people. Mrs Ndifon and her daughter, who reside two blocks away from the Iniamas, were ambushed by the assailants as they attempted to call for help.

    It was gathered that the gunmen escaped through the Qua River. Some residents said they saw a speed boat taking off from the river bank.

    Reliving the incident, Iniama said: “I was returning from Uyo in Akwa Ibom State that day when I got a call that there was sporadic gun shots at the staff quarters. I quickly called my wife and she told me that she was in a meeting. To be sure all was well, I called my daughter and I noticed that she was crying. I knew something was wrong at that point. But, my wife did not want to reveal anything to me.

    “I started receiving calls from neighbours, telling me there was trouble in my compound. I called the police and the university security office to report the incident. When I got back, I met a combined team of the police, the Department of State Service (DSS) and the school Chief Security Officer in my house,” he narrated.

    It was gathered that the neighbourhood has been at criminals’ mercy, prompting residents to contribute N3,000 monthly to strengthen security. The money is allegedly paid to the Airport Police Division, which sends two policemen to the staff quarters every night.

    When the gunmen struck, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the policemen on guard were at the second security booth some 500 metres away from Iniama’s residence.

    A furious resident, who pleaded not to be named, said: “The policemen were not on patrol. They sat in the security booth, doing nothing. That is how they do everyday. But, there is a limit to the task of these two policemen. They cannot be in all houses at the same time. If there had been adequate personnel, the incident would have been nipped in the bud.”

    Before the abduction, residents said there had been reports of robbery and burglary in the area. A resident, who gave his name as Udom, said: “In February, there was a robbery in the neighbourhood. Some criminals broke the door of Prof Okezie’s house, carting away N300,000. The same criminals also went to Dr Ndifon’s house and robbed him of valuables. The criminals have changed their game to kidnapping and that means there is no security in the staff quarters.”

    After the February incident, CAMPUSLIFE gathered that residents met with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Zana Akpagu, who promised to fix street lights in the quarters. Two months after, the area remains in darkness, providing a cover for criminals to perpetrate their act.

    Iniama lamented the insecurity in the staff quarters, saying strangers  walked around the place unhindered. He described the situation as improper, saying the university is not shielded from its host community.

    He said: “We have complained about strangers coming to fetch water in the staff quarters. It is abnormal to see strangers carrying fire wood and bush meat, walking around the staff quarters. We have been exposed and that is why crime thrives in this place.”

    Reacting, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared one week break to sympathise with the victims’ families.

    The union Secretary, Dr Jonas Ekung, said the break is not as an industrial action. He said: “The break is normal for the union to express sympathy with its members when they are faced with critical challenges such as this. Only lectures have been suspended; other activities can still go on.”

    Iniama said the abductors had not contacted the family. He said: “We have not heard from anybody. We don’t know where they were taken. We are praying to God for their release unconditionally.”

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited Ndifon’s house, it was locked. A neighbour said occupants vacated the house a day after the incident.

    Efforts to reach the school for comment failed. The Public Relations Officer, Mr Eyo Effiong Bassey, did not pick calls.   He was also said not to be in the office when our correspondent visited.

     

     

  • UNICAL matriculate 8,259

    No fewer than 8,259 freshers took the oath of matriculation at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) on Tuesday.  The freshers were admitted out of 21,247 candidates, who applied to the university through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE).

    For the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Zana Akpagu, it was his first matriculation after his he assumed office last year. He led the body of principal officers to the ceremony, which was graced by parents and guardians of the students.

    Abraham Odia Stadium, the venue, was filled to capacity. Before event started, some returning students engaged the freshers in wild celebration. They performed ‘baptism’ on some of the fresh students, who were accosted on their way to the matriculation venue.

    At 10am, the procession of matriculating students and principal officers marched into the venue.

    In his address, Prof Akpagu advised the freshers to work hard in order to graduate successfully. Taking a phrase from the Bible, the VC said: “Many are called but few are chosen”. He described the fresh students as the few who were luckily chosen from the large number of applicants.

    Prof Akpagu said the management’s policies would be student-centred, noting his administration was ready to support the welfare of students. “The students are my priority. They are at the centre of all policies of the university management,” he said.

    The VC said his administration had been waging war against lecturers’ extortion, sorting by students, indiscipline, violation of rules and procedures, rape, sexual harassment and other unethical practices. He advised the freshers to focus on their main objective in school, stressing that anyone that engaged in vices would be expelled.

    Students could not conceal their joy after they took the oath. One of them, John Bassey, said: “I am grateful to God for helping to scale through the admission hurdle. It is not an easy task to pass through UTME and post-UTME. It is not by my might but by God’s mercy.” He vowed to study hard and make a first class.

    At occasion included the Deputy VC for Academics, Prof Florence Obi, Registrar, Mr Moses Abang, Dean of Graduate School, Prof Emeka Okwueze and, Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Felix Akpan, among others.

  • UNICAL Arts Faculty holds conference

    The Faculty of Arts of the University of Calabar, Cross River State, has hosted its first  international conference.

    The event, which held at conference hall of the institution, had as its theme, Globalisation and democratic values in Africa: Perspective in the Humanities.

    The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof Zana Akpagu, said the topic for the conference was very apt, especially in view of the fact that the world was now a global village, as anything that happens in any part of the world affects every other part.

    “Nigeria is still grappling with democracy, but we will get there and we can only get there through discussions like this, and for us as an administration we are ready to encourage any efforts that is geared to enthroning the culture of intellectual discussion. We are ready to promote academic excellence through seminars and conferences like this,” he said.

    Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof  Dorothy Oluwagbemi-Jacob, said democracy is a cherished value and it is particularly appealing to those whose yearnings for freedom, equality and justice are daily frustrated.

    She said genuine democracy creates space for incentives to increase the productivity of the people, make provision for social welfare services in education and health to enable people produce more, as well as make it possible for the people to choose their representatives to governmental decision-making bodies.

    The Dean said globalisation studies call for an interdisciplinary approach comprehensive enough to capture the ‘big picture’, and hoped the Conference would provide answers to the link between globalisation and democracy.

    Also speaking, former permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations and elder statesman, Alhaji Maitama Sule, said democracy was failing in Africa because the culture of the people was not being taken into consideration in shaping it.

    Sule said: “In Africa we have been having problems with democracy and I believe it is because we have not taken into account our cultural background in shaping our type of democracy.

    “Is the American style of democracy the same as that of Great Britain? Is the British the same as France? Is France practicing the same as Russia? Until we take our culture into consideration in shaping our own democracy, we shall not succeed and continue to have problems. The democracy we are practicing today is not Afrocentric, but Eurocentric. We are not practicing our democracy along the lines of our culture.”

    Sule also emphasised the need for justice for everyone in a democratic setting.

    He said: “I believe in democracy. At the end of the day it is justice for all. The president has to do justice to all irrespective of background. Justice should be done to whosoever deserves it. That is democracy. Justice is the only way that we can follow to achieve greatness and it should be done to all and sundry. The world should never be government by force and fear and power. Justice is what this democracy wants.”

    Dignitaries who attended the event include former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; former Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu; former Anambra State governor, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife; former Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Idongesit Nkanga; and Rt Hon Nduese Essien.

     

  • UNICAL retires professor for alleged plagiarism

    The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has expelled 33 students for alleged examination malpractice. The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Zana Akpagu, made this known during a briefing.

    A professor, the VC said, was also retired by the Senate for plagiarism.

    Prof Akpagu said the development was in line with his mission to rid the school of indiscipline and restore its academic glory. He reiterated management’s stance against corruption, saying: “The affected students and staff are shown the way out to restore discipline and integrity.”

    He said UNICAL was the only school offering a course on anti-corruption, noting that the course was introduced in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practice and other Allied Matters Commission (ICPC) to inculcate good values in students.

    The Pro-chancellor, Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who is also the chairman of the Governing Council, said the council supported the anti-corruption crusade of the VC, noting that it was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s anti-graft policy.

    Iwuanyanwu said: “There is corruption everywhere. Our professors and intellectuals should sit down and formulate strategies to curb academic corruption. We must create platform to stop abuse of students by lecturers. We have to discourage sorting and bribery by academic staff. We don’t want corruption to be mentioned with the name of this university.”

    Iwuanyanwu challenged the university staff and students to report corrupt practice wherever they notice it. He said such would help the management to drive its policy of making the school the best in Africa.

  • UNICAL sex-for-marks crisis: Family of assaulted girl press for justice

    The parents of a 400- Level female law undergraduate of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) whose test paper was torn by Cyril Osim Ndifon, a professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty over sex-related matters, have vowed to get justice for their daughter who claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Prof Ndifon  on Saturday August 29, last year.

    The aggrieved parents said the family decided to grant the an  interview in reaction to the story with the title: “sex-for-marks” published in The Nation Newspaper of Thursday, March 22, 2016 involving Prof Ndifon and their daughter, Sinemobong Nkang which, according to them has become messy.

    Ndifon has been on suspension since September last year by the authorities of UNICAL following a petition to forwarded by the victim to the then vice chancellor, Prof James Ekpoke. In the petition, the victim alleged that she was raped by Ndifon in his private office which situates on the last floor of a 2- storey Faculty of Law Building (not the official dean’s office located on the first floor), while she was rewriting a test on Law of Trust which was earlier torn to shreds by the accused.

    The Nkangs blamed the police for failure to act swiftly when the matter was reported to the Airport Road Police Station, Calabar that same day.

    “The police went to the scene six days after the report was lodged. This indicates compromise”, said the parents. The case was later moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Calabar following another petition by a feminist NGO, the Nigerian Feminist which expressed displeasure in the handling of the case.

    The Nkangs said another feminist group Diamond Hill, Calabar, moved the matter to the Force Headquarters at Abuja, adding that investigation is still ongoing.

    When contacted, the Pro Chancellor of the University, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, told The Nation on phone that the Governing Council had directed that Prof Ndifon be suspended indefinitely, after his response to the query given him by the university authority.

    “For now he is officially on suspension, he is not within the university system and will remain so pending the conclusion of investigations,” Iwuanyawu, said.

     

  • Two UNICAL teachers face sack for plagiarism

    Two UNICAL teachers face sack for plagiarism

    Two lecturers of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) will be dismissed for plagiarism, Vice Chancellor Prof. Zana Akpagu said yesterday.

    He spoke at a pre-Convocation news conference where he announced that 12 students graduated with First-Class degrees and were offered employment by the institution.

    Akpagu said the dismissal was in line with the institution’s zero tolerance policy on indiscipline, forgery and exam malpractice.

    “This administration that I am leading has zero tolerance for indiscipline on the part of lecturers, non- teaching staff and students. We want to make a difference so, we are not ready to tolerate indiscipline, be it forgery, plagiarism, exam malpractice, stealing, rape and other vices.

    “This week the Disciplinary Committee of our Governing Council concluded cases of two lecturers, accused of plagiarism. They were given a fair hearing and found guilty of plagiarism and one of them is a professor and the other a senior lecturer and the council approved that they be retired immediately.”

    He said the First-Class degrees were a testimony that the institution not only improved in curriculum content but also made excellence a major goal.

    Akpagu said: “Last year, three students got First-Class degrees, but this year we have 12, who were employed. This is in line with our policy.

    “We see the potential in them making career in teaching and we have to put them in training and groom them to give them opportunity to succeed us. We have in place a policy of regeneration and we must encourage them.”

    The UNICAL VC also added that 7, 222 graduates would be participating in the 29th Convocation ceremony tomorrow.

    He said Senate President Bukola Saraki, ex-Governor of Cross River State Donald Duke and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa would be given honorary degrees for their contributions to the country.

  • UNICAL supplies mattresses to hostels

    No fewer than 27 graduates of Pharmacy were inducted by the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS)

    at a ceremony witnessed by officials of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

    The event was held at the school auditorium and had in attendance, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Abdullah Abdu Zuru, represented by his deputy for Academics, Prof A.G. Yahaya, former VC, Prof Rizkuwa Arabu Shehu, VC of Federal University of Technology, Birin-Kebbi, Prof A.N. Bilbis, Director of Education and Training, Pharmaceutical Institution of Nigeria, Dr Anthony Udoko, and PSN member in Sokoto State, Mr Ibrahim Binji, among others.

    Prof Shehu, who chaired the event, hailed the leadership of the faculty for what he called “excellent training” the graduands received. He said: “I don’t think any institution in this country can boast of adequately-trained pharmacists as UDUS, considering the level of modern learning facilities which the school put in place.”

    He told the graduands to justify their knowledge by adhering to the ethics of the profession and uphold the values of their alma mater.

    While presenting the graduands for oath taking, the Dean of the faculty, Dr Musa Ismail Abdulahi, said: “We are presenting the best graduating students so far in the history of the faculty for licence to dispense and manufacture drugs.”

    He said six students graduated with distinctions, with the best among them having Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.76. Despite appreciable level of facilities, Abdulahi said the faculty had been facing inadequate lecture hall and staff office, pleading with the school management to do more.

    The Kano State chapter of the Association of Industrial Pharmacy of Nigeria donated two projectors to the faculty during the event.

    Abba Abubakar, the outstanding students, received PSN award of excellent with N35,000 cash. He also received the award for the Best Graduating Student in Clinical Pharmacy. His colleague, Siraju Yunusa, went home with Best Graduating Student award from Association of Industrial Pharmacy of Nigeria in Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Gloria Idris, another graduand, was awarded Best Graduating Student in Ethical Dispensing.

    Gloria said: “I received this award based on my ability during the course of study. This will enable me to specialise in administrative pharmaceutics, where I think I can perform better.”