9th August 2020
Offiong Efanga Offiong is from Henshaw Town in Calabar South LGA of Cross River State, Nigeria. He has been a Professor of inorganic/coordination Chemistry in the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria for 18 years. He is an accomplished academician, astute administrator, intrepid goal-getter and undaunted activist who shares the vision of the founding fathers of the University of Calabar.
Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong’s vision statement for the University in the coming five years is to transform it into a leading University in Nigeria and in the sub-Saharan region, in teaching, learning, research and community service.
This will be accomplished by hard work, setting timelines, with continuous/ rigorous evaluations for every task assigned to Staff and Students. This will be backed up with incentive as well as training and retraining of Staff. Professor Offiong understands that to produce globally competitive and skilled graduates and make University of Calabar a “Center of Excellence”, a lot of things will have to be done differently.
He will attract grants and establish functional linkages with other institution in Nigeria and abroad.
* Professor Offiong intends to put in place a sustainable plan to boost the internally generated revenue (IGR)
* He will revolutionize the delivery and quality of Education/Services by expanding and integrating Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) into all the operations of the University.
* As a former Union Leader, he will work to sustain industrial harmony and strive to enhance Staff/Students welfare, motivation and productivity.
* In line with the new direction in Universities worldwide to be ‘Visible and globally Competitive’, Professor Offiong will strengthen the capacity of Academic Staff to have more publications in high impact journals cited in Scopus/ Scimago, Thompson Reuters abstract and citation data base among others.
* As an exemplary academic leader, he is on the Scopus abstract and citation data base, where the world university rankings are hinged on, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong has contributed 35 publications, 1017 citations and an H-index of 17. Surely, as Vice- Chancellor he would know how to create the enabling environment for many young/upcoming scholars to strive and surpass this.
* He will be focused also in improving the ranking of the University of Calabar through facilitating local and international conference attendance and researches in the University.
* He will consolidate on the achievements/efforts of the past administration of the University towards the expansion of new faculties/Centres and infrastructural development. New centres of excellence where the University has a competitive advantage will be established.
Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong has traversed the ranks of public administration and is therefore no administrative neophyte. He has been Dean of Students’ Affairs; exposed to all the intrigues of students. He was a one-time dean of then one of the largest faculties in the university; now split into the present faculties of Physical and Biological Sciences. He was a member of the Governing Council of UNICAL and Commissioner for Education for 8 years. He intends to institutionalize effective management and governance in the University of Calabar.
If given the chance to become the 11th Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, he promises to work hard to reposition academics, administration and consultancy in the University of Calabar.
The above vision and mission statements are achievable because I have the credentials, my experience, strength of character, good health, fear of God and a clear idea of what it will take to transform the University of Calabar – my Alma Mater.
Thank you.
Offiong Efanga Offiong Professor of Inorganic & Coordination Chemistry, University of Calabar
