66 Students Bag First Class As Unical Graduates 13, 610 At 37th Convocation
By Uket Oka, Calabar
A total of 66 students of the University of Calabar (UniCal) would be awarded First Class degrees as 13,610 students are expected to be awarded various degrees and certificates at institution’s 37 convocation ceremony slated for Friday 21 and Saturday 22 March, 2025.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, who made this known on Monday at a pre-37th Conversation/50th Anniversary press conference held at the Senate Chambers of the University, said the university had graduated 168,786 students since its inception in 1975.
Giving a breakdown of the number, Prof. Obi said that the Diploma students wre 181, First Degrees, 11,725, Masters Degrees, 876, PhD 572, PGD, 249 and Postdoctoral Diploma in Education, 7.
She stated that, “further breakdown shows 66 students have First Class, 3,054 Second Class Upper Division, 7,450 Second Class Lower Division, 925 Third Class and 7 Pass.
“As expected, we shall be awarding degrees to those who have been found worthy in character and learning. The event would be marked by formal induction into the Unical Alumni.”
She also stated that six deserving Nigerians who have made landmark contributions, shaped the landscape and impacted lives in service to their motherland would be awarded Honorary Doctorate Degrees (Honoris Causa).
“The list include the following: Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio (D.Educ Mgt), H.E. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (D. Pol.Sc), H.E. Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu (D. Pol Sc), Maj. Gen. (rtd.) Moses Bisong Obi (D. Peace & Conflict Studies), Hon. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC (D. Laws.) and Prince Arthur I. Eze (D. Bus Mgt),” the Vice Chancellor said.
Prof. Obi also noted that the ceremony would feature the investiture of Emeritus Professor on three highly acclaimed professors of the University of Calabar, whose intellectual contributions to their disciplines and the institution are widely acknowledged.
“The decision to accord them this special recognition has been endorsed by the Senate of the institution. The recipients of the award are: 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,” she said.
Other activities slated for the week-long event which commenced Monday include, the 50th Anniversary and Convocation Lecture to be delivered by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on the topic, “Our Gown in Town and in Cyberspace: Sustainable and Human Centred Education, the Mandate of our University, 2025-2075,” on Thursday, March 20, 2025, as well as awards and fund raising, research fair and exhibition, alumni reunion activities at the “Malabor Republic and a command performance, among others.
The Vice Chancellor noted that prior to the convocation ceremony, there would also be the commissioning of some major Projects in the school.
She enumerated some of the projects to be commissioned to include, Unical Hall of Fame and Multipurpose Auditorium, the College of Education Complex, Fire Service Station/Fire-Fighting Truck, Pharmaceutical and Medical Pharmacy Building and Faculty of Pharmacy Administrative Building.
Prof. Obi, who also revealed that the event would also feature the Graduate School Dinner for Ph.D. Graduands with their supervisors, would come to a close with a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Parish, University of Calabar on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 9am prompt
