Catholic Church Honors UNICAL VC, Others

By Raymond Ekemini

Deputy Vice Chancellor of UNICAL receiving the award on behalf of the VC

The developmental strides recorded in the University of Calabar by the Prof. James Epoke led administration has not gone unnoticed as the Catholic Church has honored him with an award of excellence.

The award ceremony which was held at the St. Paul’s Catholic Parish of the University of Calabar drew the principal officers of the institution to the church.

The event was done alongside the 2014 harvest of the church which was tagged the Harvest of Hope.

Speaking at the event, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Offiong, applauded the Vice Chancellor and other awardees who have been found performing above excellence in their various fields if endeavor.

He specifically pointed out that the Vice Chancellor is awarded because of his infrastructural development in the University, which has changed the face of the institution.

Receiving the award, on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof. Austin Obiekezie, commended the church for finding him worthy of such an award.

He concluded by saying that the award will spur them to do more for the University. He donated the sum of N200,000 in support of the church harvest.

Others who were honored along with the VC with include: Dr. Thomas Agan, Chief Medical Director of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Barrister Ekpo Nta, ICPC Chairman, Prof. S.J. Utsalo, Former DVC Administration, UNICAL, Hon. John. Owan Enoh, Member, House of Representatives, Prof. Bassey Okon Igiri, DVC Administration, UNICAL.

Others include: Prof. Zana Akpagu, Prof. Alex Menkiti, Mr. John Kennedy Okpara, Mr. Mathias Ajaba.

While speaking to journalists after the event, some student of the institution commended the church for recognizing hard work and excellence, while some frowned at the award given to the DVC Administration of UNICAL, Prof. Bassey Igiri, whom they said has done nothing to deserve the award.

One of the students who disclosed himself as Joseph Akpan frowned seriously over the Prof. Okon award.

In his words, “The DVC Admin has done nothing ever since he was appointed as the school DVC.
He hardly attends functions even when invited.”