Akpagu has made Unical one of the most sought-after varsity - Buhari's aide

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Bar. Okoi Obono Obla has commended the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu for his remarkable achievements in the institution, describing him as a great achiever.

Unical VC, Prof. Zana Akpagu (L) with the Special Assistant on Prosecution to the President, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla

Bar. Obla made the commendation when the leadership of the Postgraduate Union Government of UNICAL paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor in his office to officially invite him for a Public lecture organized by the union.

He said he was happy when he heard that Prof. Akpagu has taken over the mantle of leadership of UNICAL, stressing that under his watch the institution has soared higher and has become one of the most-sought after tertiary institutions in the country.

Going down memory lane, he recalled how humble, hardworking and brilliant the Vice Chancellor was in their secondary school days, stressing that as a senior student then, he demonstrated sterling leadership qualities.

The President’s Aide said these leadership qualities is what Prof. Akpagu has brought to bear in the institution, adding that his notable achievements would go down in the annals of history.

Bar. Obla who is one of the Guest Speakers at the Postgraduate Student Union Public lecture said the Vice Chancellor has succeeded in stamping out the menace of cultism, which according to him, is a great departure from the gory days when cultism took centre stage in the institution.

He stressed that he was proud of Prof. Akpagu’s achievements and efforts at maintaining peace and tranquility on campus even as he restated the federal government’s continuous support for the institution.

Speaking earlier, President of the Postgraduate Students’ union, UNICAL, Uket Abanda said the union is totally in support of the administration of the Vice Chancellor, saying that they are proud to be associated with the success stories of his administration.

He said being a ‘’father and mentor’’ with robust intellectual capacity the union deemed it fit to invite him to their public lecture as the Chief Host.

According to Abanda, the public lecture is organized as a way of keying into the laudable and students-friendly policies of the Vice Chancellor.

Responding, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu welcomed the President’s Aide to the institution, adding that he has been supportive and deeply involved in the management of the institution.
Prof. Akpagu said the support and encouragement of Bar. Obla has been instrumental to the success of his administration even as he promised to sustain the existing cordial relationship between the federal government and the institution.

The Vice Chancellor said he is poised to make a difference as an alumnus of UNICAL and would not relent in his efforts at quality leadership, which would in turn translate to academic advancement.

Prof. Akpagu said when he came on board, the institution was lagging behind in terms of essential academic programmes, a cogent reason; he embarked on massive curriculum expansion by creating new departments and faculties.

This came as he thanked the President for the massive infrastructure development in the institution undertaken under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

He said UNICAL has keyed into the anti-corruption war of the federal government by introducing anti-corruption studies in its curriculum.
The Vice Chancellor also commended the Postgraduate Union for organizing the public lecture.