The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has achieved a historic milestone with 32 graduates bagging First Class Honours degrees, marking the highest number of such graduates in the institution’s history. This remarkable feat occurred under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Florence Banku Obi, who has been lauded as the driving force behind the university’s academic excellence.
In a pre-convocation press briefing, Prof. Obi attributed the increase in First Class graduates to the implementation of quality assurance measures and scholarship schemes across all departments. She also announced that the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah, will deliver the 36th Convocation Lecture titled “Harmonizing Diversities For National Development”.
Additionally, the convocation will witness the inauguration of five projects worth over two billion naira, largely funded by TETFund, and the awarding of degrees to thousands of students, with more results expected before the convocation day.
In her words, “We have put in place some quality assurance measures, customized booklets and reduced sorting syndrome in the system.
“We introduced quality assurance measures and other steps that will make students sit up and read their books and the students sat up.
“Students are now reading and so we have that number graduating with First Class.
“We also introduced scholarship scheme in all the 110 departments across the school and we expect that the positive competition will be huge subsequently”, Professor Obi said.
The Vice Chancellor also disclosed that the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah will deliver the 36th Convocation Lecture of the University of Calabar.
She said Bishop Kukah’s convocation lecture will be titled “Harmonizing Diversities For National Development”, and will hold on Thursday March 21st at the University’s International Conference Centre.
She described the Bishop as one man who has given his life not just for the service of God but that of humanity.
Professor Obi also disclosed that as part of the convocation activities, five projects executed largely by TETFund will be inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, alongside some TETFund officials.
She said the projects which comprises three pavilions and two hostels are worth over two billion naira.
Other are about 8,415 students who will earn first degrees, 438 with doctorate degrees and 754 Masters Degrees.
She however said the number of graduands will increase before the convocation day as more results are being turned in.
