Thirteen thousand, six hundred and ten students to participate in UNICAL’S forthcoming convocation.
The Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Professor Florence Obi says about thirteen thousand, six hundred and ten (13, 610) students are expected to participate in the forthcoming convocation of the institution.
Professor Obi stated this at the Senate Chamber of the university during a press conference to mark UNICAL at fifty and the institution’s thirty-seventeenth convocation.
According to the Vice Chancellor, a breakdown shows that, the University will graduate 181 Diploma students, 11, 725 first degree, 876 Masters degree, 572 PhD students, 249 PGD and Postdoctoral Diploma in education.
Professor Obi who is the 11th and first female Vice Chancellor of the University also noted that 66 students would graduate with first class, 3, 054 with second class upper division, 7, 450 second class lower division, 925 third class and 7 students on pass degree grade.
She gave assurance that the university would be awarding degrees to those who had been found worthy in character and learning, stating the institution’s resolve to continue to produce sound and globally competitive PhD graduands, with the hope that the knowledge, wisdom and confidence gained would positively impact and transform society.
Prof. Obi stressed that the celebration was not only about reflecting on the past but it provided the opportunity periscope into the future of the University.
“At 50, we are not just looking back at our achievements; we are setting the stage for a greater future, the next 50 years must be more impactful”, she said.
The Vice Chancellor maintained that apart from emeritus professorship to be conferred on Prof. Ekanem Ikpi Braide of the faculty of Biological Sciences, Prof. Eme Effiom Osim of the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Prof. Chris Nwamuo of the faculty of Arts, honorary awards would also be conferred on six (6) deserving Nigerians who made landmark contributions in nation building.
Some of the activities lined up for the celebration include 50th anniversary/convocation lecture tagged: “Our Gown in town and in cyberspace: Sustainable and human centred education, the mandate of our university, 2025-2075”, awards and fund raising, commissioning of projects, research fair and exhibition and inter-denominational church service.