“No Serious Student will Eat Three Square Meals” – UNICAL VC

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi has stated that the institution has put in place several mechanisms to help hardworking students excel in their academics.
Prof. Obi stated this while addressing freshmen admitted for the 2021/2022 Academic session at the occasion of the Freshmen Orientation Ceremony held at the Institution’s International Conference Center.

The Vice-Chancellor while congratulating the freshmen for being successful among the many candidates that applied for admission assured them that only by working hard will they end their journey in the ivory tower well. She went further to task the students to stave and invest in themselves and buy books which will advance their studies.

She urged the freshman to attend lectures and commence reading intensively from their class and personal notes to make good grades and possibly earn scholarships.

Prof. Obi gave assurances that lecturers will not fail anyone who studies hard, adding that, the institution has a Directorate of Quality Assurance that ensures that every student gets the score they deserve.

The Vice-Chancellor also assured the students that the University is a gender-friendly one that has zero tolerance for any form of exploitation or abuse by either lecturers or schoolmates.

“You have the right to say no to sexual advancement and molestation, I am a mother and we as parents did not send our children to be feasted upon by old men, but to be protected.
We have centres you can report to, like the Centre for Gender Studies, Guidance and Counselling, as well as, some Youth Friendly Hubs.”

The University Administrator urged the students to be humble, well-dressed, polite and respectful to the staff of the University, this is even as she prayed for God’s guidance.

Also speaking, the Registrar, Mr Gabriel O. Egbe who spoke on “University Policies, Rules and Students Discipline”, said it is a tradition for the university to bring together freshmen to expose them to the basic policies, rules and regulations of the University, as well as, other range of services and privileges available to them as significant members of the University Community.

Mr Egbe said policies, rules and regulations are made to achieve certain ends intended to benefit all, this is even as he said the university is a corporate entity comprising the student, staff and Management.

He also urged the staff to play by the rules and regulations of the University which are geared towards actualising the mission and vision of the University, adding that, the University can be comparable to any other within and outside the country.

The Registrar further admonished the freshmen to imbibe the culture of self-discipline to win that “prestigious prize” which is the certificate, adding that, they should not relent in their determination to excel.

Earlier, the Dean, of Student Affairs, Dr Anthony Eyang while welcoming the freshmen to the institution, tasked them to hearken to the already laid down foundation for the task ahead. Dr Eyang assured the students that the institution is blessed with a dynamic Vice Chancellor that has put all that is needed in place to make them excel in their academic performance urging them to maximise the opportunity given to become better alumni/ambassadors of their alma mater and our dear country.

He charged the freshmen to be attentive to all presentations, especially, the one on, “How to Register Online Courses and Payment of School Charges” adding that, the presentations will help guide their stay, so they can actualize the reason for being here.

The Dean advised them to obtain their handbook from their Departments and read the same judiciously because it is the first textbook that will guide them to their success.