By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The University of Calabar, UniCal, is set to honour former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of North West Petroleum, Dame Winifred Akpani, and another business tycoon,Tola Johnson, at the institution’s 35th convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023.
UniCal’s Vice Chancellor, VC, Prof Florence Obi, disclosed this yesterday during a pre-convocation press briefing which took place at the institution’s Senate chambers.
Obi stated that the conferrement of doctorate degrees on these worthy and eminent personalities was a way of giving recognition to their numerous contributions towards the development and growth of the nation.
Also to be recognized by the university authority are deserving teaching and non-teaching staff of the university, who would be given award of excellence for their meritorious services to the university.
The VC said, “We want to recognize, appreciate and bestow meritorious awards to our junior, senior and management staff in both academic and non-academic cadres.
“I may not readily give you the total number of our staff to be appreciated and awarded, but the number is high, because they cut across the academic and non-academic staff in all categories.
“We could not hold the award ceremony last year. This is why it is coming this year. That of 2023 will also come later this year. It was an arduous task to come with all the deserving names. I am sure the awards will encourage them and others that have not won yet.
“We are awarding them for noble development and for proving their mettle.”
The meritorious award ceremony is one of the highlights of the one week-long activities marking the 35th convocation ceremony of the university.
