On behalf of members of the Senate, other members of staff and the students of our
great university, the University of Uyo, it is my honour and privilege to welcome you
all very specially and most warmly to this combined convocation ceremony of our
University. We thank the good Lord Almighty for faithfully granting all of you hitchfree journeys to Uyo, the serene and alluring capital of Akwa Ibom State – a state
which, through the vicissitudes of change and continuity, has developed progressively
into a model spectacle in the comity of states within the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Convocation is a continual academic tradition among universities during which
degrees and certificates are awarded to graduating students and those that have met
certain conditions of the Senate of each university to be conferred with honorary
degrees. The ceremony typically brings together a robust constellation of radiant
graduands who have met the requirements of the university in character and learning,
as well as their parents, guardians, other family members, friends and well-wishers to
share in the joy of the success of the graduating students. It is, therefore, also a
moment of Thanksgiving to God for the providential gift of life, good health and
sound mind throughout the academic journey of these graduands against several odds
and social challenges. It is within the ambit of this gratitude to God that I also most heartily welcome to the University the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu
Olatunji Alausa, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission
(NUC) and the Acting Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund
(TETFund), whose schedules of duty routinely bring them close to the routine
activities and affairs of the University. I welcome and thank them profoundly.
It is with much delight that I welcome the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State,
who is a part of this convocation in double capacity: He is here, first as the Executive
Governor of the State and second as a doctoral graduand of the University. Ladies and
gentlemen, let me proclaim with a sense of pride that His Excellency, the Governor, as
an alumnus of this great institution, took over the clay of the state and added to its
beauty a mosaic of colourfulness that has enhanced the elegant outlook of state
structure which he inherited from his predecessors. Your Excellency, we are proud to
have you as one of our alumni. I must likewise appreciate the esteemed presence of
members of the State Executive Council; the Speaker and members of the Akwa Ibom
State House of Assembly; the Chief Judge and members of the Akwa Ibom State
Judiciary, all of whom have devoted conscience, time and resources towards the
building of a world class state through rapid and uncommon transformation. The
University of Uyo, through their efforts and support, has been blessed with a
congenial host environment for the actualization of its vision and mission.
Distinguished members of the National Assembly, past governors and their spouses,
and members of the public, including the members of the press, are deserving of
gratitude for availing us of their presence and time.
A royal welcome and appreciation to our Chancellor, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Dr.
Abubakar Adamu Maje, CON, the Emir of Hadejia and Chairman of Jigawa
Traditional Rulers Council, and all members of his entourage to this Land of Promise.
This extends to fellow Vice-Chancellors and Principal Officers of other universities
alongside heads of our collaborating institutions of learning and corporate bodies
from within and outside Nigeria. In the indigenous lingo, I say “Emedi o”.
MYSTEWARDSHIPTHUS FAR AS VICE-CHANCELLOR
Since I assumed duty as the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor in 2020, it was last year I
had the providential opportunity to organise the 26th, 27th and 28th combined
convocation ceremonies in November of that year owing to a constellation ofconstraints such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the strikes by staff unions in Nigeria’s
public universities. This 29th and 30th omnibus convocation ceremony is thus my
second convocation since I came into office in December, 2020. The destabilizing
events and state of affairs both in Nigeria and around the world, which have happened
coevally with my tenure of office, are not strange to anyone of us. First, there were the
disruptive pandemic and the strikes, which I had just mentioned; and then since last
year, the nation’s economy has been undergoing changes whose impact on the
provision of social services, including education, has not been superlatively friendly.
On account of these developments, while the University of Uyo under my watch has
continued to enjoy stability and peace on the campus, the fallout from the overarching
economic environment has not encouraged our reaching our expectations in all
aspects of the development of the University. Despite these challenges, which are, of
course, not unique to our institution, I am pleased to state that the University of Uyo
has made quite some impressive progress in nearly all aspects of the life of the
institution, highlights of which I present as follows:
INFRASTRUCTURALDEVELOPMENT
Infrastructure makes for congenial learning environment in universities, facilitating
better instruction which improves the overall outcome and well-being of the staff and
the students. The University of Uyo under my watch acknowledges the relationship
between standard infrastructure and the quality of students and thus intentionally
facilitated a plethora of construction works.

MAJOR INNOVATIONS IN THE UNIVERSITY WITHIN THE LAST ONE
YEAR
In addition to the profile of physical infrastructural projects highlighted, the
University of Uyo, to the glory of God, has witnessed major new innovations in many
ways, as presented below.
University of Uyo Printing Press
Given the fervency of academic activities in this University, particularly as they
border on publications, the Management of the University under my watch resolved to
establish here on the campus a vibrant printing press which would handle in-house the
University’s printing and publishing needs while at the same time accommodate the
printing and publication of works of individuals within and outside the campus as a
way of raising the internally-generated revenue profile of the of the University. The
University of Uyo Printing Press was officially opened for business in July, this year,
and it has since been making very rapid progress in all aspects of printing and
publishing, including digitalization of materials. Let me use this opportunity to
inform the public of the availability of this brand new, state-of-the-art press, and to
solicit for patronage of the facility from among members of the public.
Bookshop
The University in partnership with Dara bookshop has established a standard
Bookshop on campus. With this, our students, staff and the entire University
Community now has a one-stop bookshop that meets their needs.
Staff Matters
I must confess, ladies and gentlemen, that the economic downturn in our country has
made it difficult for the managers of our public educational institutions to provide
optimum motivation for their staff. The University of Uyo has not been an exception
to this situation. However, the Management of the University, under my leadership,
assessed the entire situation and resolved to provide maximum motivation for the staff
of our university in whichever ways possible and within the orbit of our control while
being hopeful that the general situation in the country will improve over time. Such
motivations have been in the areas of promotion of staff and introduction of certain
forms of statutory recognitions that had appeared to be the preserve of only the olderuniversities. The details of these measures are:
Promotions
Promotions in the university system follow three different procedures. The members
of the non-teaching staff are promoted periodically once they have completed the
statutory gestation period in one position and they have been assessed and found to
have met all other requirements. Promotion of academic staff up to the Senior
Lecturer position is based on completion of the mandatory gestation period in one
rank in addition to the staff having a certain number of scholarly publications. In
addition to fulfilling these conditions, promotions at the professorial level further go
through a peer review route and entails spending of money in the assessment process.
Promotion at this level is, therefore, the most conspicuous and celebrated, and it is
often used to gauge the commitment of Management to the promotion of its staff,
particularly the teaching staff. It is my pleasure, distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
to announce the following statistics of professorial promotion since I assumed office
as the Vice Chancellor, Prof (128)  and Associate Prof. ( 183 )

Emeritus and Distinguished Professors
The University of Uyo has been especially blessed with a rich constellation of
academic staff who have made their marks in diverse fields nationally and
internationally. Very many of these have made outstanding individual contributions to
the growth of the University and the nation, and are still poised to do more for the
institution especially if given the platform within the university to continue to do so.
In consideration of this, and also to set a target for the younger academics to aspire
towards, the Management of the University took the bold step of according some of
these outstanding members of staff two different categories of recognition, namely,
Emeritus Professorship and Distinguished Professorship. Sequel to this, the Senate of
the University of Uyo has approved of the conferment of the status of EmeritusProfessor and of Distinguished Professor on the first batch of its deserving members
of staff.
Accordingly, Professor Akpan H. Ekpo, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Uyo and a globally acclaimed economist, was awarded Emeritus Professor. Prof
Akpan Hogan Ekpo has thus become the first Emeritus Professor of the University of
Uyo.
In a similar vein, the award of Distinguished Professor was conferred on Professor
Enefiok E. Essien, a legal luminary, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the Immediate
Past Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo; Professor Godfrey O. Udo, an expert in
Estate Management and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and
Professor EnoAbasi E. Urua, a widely acclaimed linguist, the current Director,
School of Basic Studies and former Dean of Arts, University of Uyo. It is my pleasure
to announce that these pioneer honorees would be decorated for the first time in the
history of this University during this convocation ceremony, thus ushering the
University of Uyo into the league of universities who have Emeritus Professors and
Distinguished Professors.
LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY’S ROUTINE
ACTIVITIES
National Universities Commission Approved and Accredited Programmes

The University of Uyo has received the results of two batches of the NUC
Accreditation visits. These are for the October/November 2021 and
October/November 2023.
In the October/November 2021 exercise, the University had Full Accreditation in the
following programmes:
1. Faculty of Arts (History and International Studies),
2. Faculty of Education (Health Education, Pre-Primary and Primary Education,
Technical Education and Education Technology),
3. Faculty of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering),4. Faculty of Agriculture (Food Science and Technology),
5. Faculty of Environmental Science (Building, Estate, Urban and Regional
Planning),
6. Faculty of Clinical Sciences (Medicine and Surgery),
7. Faculty of Pharmacy,
8. Faculty of Biological Sciences (Biochemistry).
9. In the Faculty of Management Sciences, the Department of Accounting had interim
accreditation while the Department of Civil Engineering of the Faculty of
Engineering also had interim status. This indicates 85.7% full accreditation and
14.3% interim.
Results of the October/November 2023 NUC Accreditation exercise were as follows:
1. The Departments of Accounting, Business Management and Insurance in the
Faculty of Management Sciences have Full Accreditation status.
2. The Efik/Ibibio Programme and the Department of Theatre and Film Studies in the
Faculty of Arts also had full accreditation status.
3. Full accreditation status was also earned by the Departments of Computer Science
Education, Efik/Ibibio Education, Fine Arts Education, Home Economics Education
(all in the Faculty of Education);
4. Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical/Electronics Engineering (all
in the Faculty of Engineering) earned Full Accreditation;
5. Quantity Surveying (Faculty of Environmental Science) had Full Accreditation;
6. Department of Botany and Ecological Studies (Faculty of Biological Sciences)
earned Full Accreditation;
7. Department of Psychology and Department of Political Science and Public
Administration (Faculty of Social Sciences); and
8. The Faculty of Law both had Full Accreditation.
In November/December 2023 Accreditation, twenty-two (22) programmes were
presented and all had full accreditation. In all, our great university secured 83.33%
full accreditation status and 16.67% interim accreditation status.
It is proper to add that some of the programmes with interim status are from the newly
established and unbundled programmes which are undergoing resource verifications
and accreditations. In all, over 90% of our academic programmes have full accreditation while the remaining 10% have interim. We are working hard to
represent the interim programmes so that we can have 100% full accreditation.
Inaugural and Public Lectures
An Inaugural Lecture is a public academic ceremony to celebrate the appointment of a
lecturer to the terminal rank of professor. The Lecture is an occasion and opportunity
for a newly promoted professor to share his/her achievements in research
engagement, community service and teaching activities before an audience of
members of the university community and the general public. May I state that not all
lecturers rise to the enviable glass ceiling of full professorship and not all full
professors are, by dint of circumstances, are opportuned to present an Inaugural
Lecture. Since I assumed office as Vice-Chancellor, there have been Inaugural
th Lectures on a monthly basis and as at last month we had our 106 Inaugural Lecture.
Let me, at this juncture, thank very specially the group of teaching and non-teaching
colleagues who came together under the umbrella of “Friends of Prof. Nyaudoh
Ndaeyo” to establish a lecture series under that name. I especially appreciate the
efforts of the Pioneer Dean of Management Sciences and former Chairman,
Committee of Deans, Prof Isaac Ayandele and his core of friends who initiated that
series of lectures. Thus far, three thrilling lectures have already been given, and it is
my hope that the series of lectures will contribute to ignite intellectual effervescence
in the University through research and scholarly calisthenics. Many other
Faculties/Departments have also packaged and put forward Public Lectures that have
generated public discourse. I appreciate them and I call for sustenance of same.
P R IZES , DON ATION S , HONO R S , R E COGN ITION S A N D
CONFERMENTS
1. On November 6, 2022, Dr. Aniekan Imo Peter of the Department of Anatomy,
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences donated three industrial fume extractors with
100,000 installation capacity each and carried out the plumbing of the laboratory.
2. On January 20, 2023, the 1990 set of students of the Faculty of Communication and
Media Studies presented a Life-Streaming Broadcasting Equipment to the University.
3. The former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and current
Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, Rt. Hon. Senator Aniekan Bassey, anesteemed alumnus of this great university, donated a dedicated internet service to the
Faculty of Law on May 18, 2023.
4. Professor Philip Afaha, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), University of
Abuja, instituted an endowment fund of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira
only) for the best graduating student in the Department of History and International
Studies;
5. Architect Dr. Usen Udo, Head of Department, Architecture, instituted an award of
N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only) for the best graduating student in
Architectural Design in each session for ten (10) years.
6.The Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, Akwa Ibom State Branch, in
honour of His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah on his 88th birthday, instituted a prize
of N100,000.00 (One Hundred Thousand Naira only) for the best graduating student
in the Department of Architecture for the 2023/2024 session.
7. The Vice-Chancellor on November 9, 2023 was awarded Honorary Fellow status
by the Society of Nigerian Artists.
8. The National Universities Commission (NUC) forwarded one (1) carton of the Law
Reports of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, Abuja, Nigeria (2010 – 2015
& 2017) for use in the University Library.
9. The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs donated an MF 75hp Tractor, plough, and
trailer, all worth N35,000,000.00 (Thirty Five Million Naira only) to the Faculty of
Engineering.
10. The Department of Economics benefited from the benevolence of one of its
alumnus, Sir Okon Okon, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Board of Internal
Revenue, who donated ten (10) new laptops, one projector, one air conditioner,
inverter, wireless adaptor and replaced armoured cable to revamp the Economic
Science Laboratory.
11. The Christian Family Mission of Nigeria, Nkwot Nko, Ikono Local Government
Area, Akwa Ibom State, facilitated by the Dean, Faculty of Allied Health, Professor
Anietie Moses, donated an X-Ray Machine, Theatre Lamp, Wheel Chair, Oxygen
Concentrator with 4 Cylinders and 2 sets of crutches to the Faculty of Allied Health
Science on September 17, 2024.
12. On Monday, September 23, 2024, the Department of English, Faculty of Arts,
received two state-of-the-art laptops from an alumna of the Department, Mrs.
Idorenyin Patrick Mbeke-Ekanem, as a way of giving back to the Department and the
University13. The Agricultural Class of 1995, University of Uyo during a courtesy call on the
Vice-Chancellor presented an Award to him for his meritorious service and also
donated computer sets and accessories to the Faculty of Agriculture on June 14, 2024
at the Council Chamber.
14. On Monday, October 21, the Royal Family of Late Obong Ndaeyo Nyaudo
Instituted a prize of N50,000 for best graduand in the Faculty of Agriculture in honour
of one of their Patriarch, and an illustrious son, Late Obong Inuaeyen Ndaeyo, the
first Chief Agricultural Officer in the then South Eastern State and Pioneer General
Manager, Cross River Basin Development Authority.
15. Prof. Trenchard O. Ibia, a retired Professor of Soil Science has instituted an award
of N50,000 for best graduating student in the Department of Soil Science for a period
of ten (10) years at first instance.
OTHER EVENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY
1. On March 16, 2023, the University Management received Mrs. Soni Kukil, the
representative of the Canadian Embassy. The visit provided the forum for the
Canadian Embassy and the University of Uyo to explore possible areas of
collaboration.
2. On March 24, 2023, Medical Graduands of the College of Health Sciences had their
20th Physician’s Oath-Taking Ceremony.
3. The Faculty of Pharmacy had their 22nd and 23rd Oath-Taking/Induction
Ceremony of the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 graduates on May 16, 2023, and
December 7, 2023, respectively.
4. The Vice-Chancellor and the University of Uyo WASH Team travelled to Beijing,
China, to participate in the XVIII International World Water Congress between 11 and
15 September, 2023.
5. The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in conjunction with the
Faculty of Education, held its 10th Induction Ceremony on October 19, 2023. The
subsequent 11th and 12th Induction Ceremony took place on July 4, 2024 in the
University of Uyo.
6. The University of Uyo held its 26th, 27th and 28th combined convocation
ceremonies between 8 and 11 November, 2023.
7. History graduates had their first Induction Ceremony into the Historical Society of
Nigeria (HSN) on Monday 14 October, 2024, where 216 graduating students and 64 postgraduate students were inducted. At the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor was
honoured with a Distinguished Award of Honour for his Interest in the discipline of
History.
8. Professor Akindele Folarin Alonge, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, was conferred as
a Fellow of the International Academy of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
(FIAABE) during the World Congress in Kyoto, Japan, in December 2022. He was
also conferred as Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers on October
26, 2023.
9. Professor Amos Fola Awodeyi of the Department of Science Education was
invested as a Life Member of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (LMAN).
10. Professor EnoAbasi Urua was re-elected for another four (4) years term (2024 –
2028) to represent Nigeria and Africa in the Executive Committee of the Comite
Internationale Permanent des Linguistes (CIPL) at the 21st International Congress of
Linguists held in Poznan in Poland from September 8 to 14, 2024.
11. Professor Isaac E. Udoh and Professor Grace Ekong, both of the Department of
Music were inducted as Fellows of the Association of Nigerian Musicologist
(FANIM) at the 20th Annual Conference of the Association held in Port Harcourt,
Rivers State between the 19th and 23rd of August, 2024.
12. The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria donated an endowment Professorial
Chair in Taxation Law and Practice on Part-Time basis at the Faculty of Law,
University of Uyo, effective
13. On June 11, 2024, the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Faculty of Agriculture
organised the 2024 World Environment Day Celebration.
14. The Pan African Dialogue Institute (TPADI) on May 24, 2024 organised an
International Conference on Dialogue and Pan Africanism to mark the Celebration of
the 2024 International Africa Day. The event had Her Excellency, Madam Fatoumata,
a former Vice President of Republic of the Gambia, in attendance.
15. On June 26, 2024, a Valedictory Lecture was given by Professor Akpan H. Ekpo,
the former Vice-Chancellor of the University, to mark his birthday and formal
retirement from the service of the University of Uyo. This was accompanied by a book
presentation titled Nigeria: The Economics of Potentials and the Potentials of
Economics.
16. The Vice-Chancellor, on August 19, 2024, signed an MoU between the University
of Uyo and Valid Films and Advertising Academy.
17. An MoU between the University of Uyo and Antic Global Ltd for the harvestingand processing of palm fruits as well as the training of student in palm oil and soap
production was signed.
18. On August 20, 2024, Professor Trenchard O. Ibia Professorial Chair in Soil
Science was instituted.
19. The Vice-Chancellor was in the University of South Carolina between February
25 and March 3, 2024 upon invitation for the purpose of collaborating on research of
mutual interest in the areas of Geographic Information System (GIS), climate change
and diseases like COVID 19.
20.The Vice-Chancellor was also in Lancaster University, United Kingdom, for the
purpose of attending an African Research and Innovation Partnership (ARIP)
Workshop between the 20th and 22nd of March, 2024.
21. The Vice-Chancellor also attended the maiden meeting of the National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) Management with Heads of Corps Producing Institutions on
Monday 13, 2024 at Abuja.
22. The Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo’s public lectures had its maiden edition on March
25, 2024 on the theme: “Planning for Retirement: The Entrepreneurship Option,” and
had Professor Emmanuel Ayandele, a Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Management Science
as the Lecturer.
23.The University of Uyo emerged the best among the countries in the University
Database Lead at Study Abroad Aide led by Roxanne Naguinlin in their November,
2023 Annual Best Value Rankings for International Students. The Ranking assessed
8,060 private and public higher educational institutions in 69 countries. The
University of Uyo was recognised as one of the 100 Best Value Universities in Nigeria
and placed among the Top 61% Best Value University World Rankings.
24. Two staff of the University of Uyo – Professor Enoidem B. Usoro, the immediate
past Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and Mr. Aniediabasi Udofia, the
immediate past Registrar of the University of Uyo – were appointed as Rector and
Registrar, respectively, to the Governing Council of Dakkada Skills Acquisition, Ikot
Ada Idem, by His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor (Dr.) Umo
Bassey Eno.

CONVOCATION STATISTICS
By the special grace of God, the University of Uyo is graduating a grand total of
Twelve Thousand, three hundred and seventy two (12,372) students for this combined
th th (29 and 30 ) convocation ceremony. Abreakdown of the figure indicates that:
1. Postgraduate level
(a) Doctoral Degrees – 262
(b) Master’s Degrees – 581
(c) Postgraduate Diploma – 246
Total = 1,089
2. Undergraduate level (2020/2021 and 2021/2022 Sessions)
(a) Bachelor’s (4,823 + 6012) – 10,835
(b) Diploma (176 + 235) – 411
(c) Certificates (5 + 32) – 37
Total = 11,283
Afurther breakdown of the total number of undergraduate results for the two sessions
revealed the following categories:
(i) First Class (56 + 118) – 174
(ii) Second Class (Upper Division) (1,737 + 2,306) – 4,043
(iii) Second Class (Lower Division) (2,336 + 2,895) – 5,231
(iv) Third Class (412 + 481) – 893
(v) Pass (282 + 212 – 494
Total = 10,835
May I use this opportunity to specially felicitate all graduands, parents, guardians and
indeed all of us for this great achievement. I urge and pray that you shall all remain
divine tools of blessings and great ambassadors to your family, community,
University of Uyo, Nigeria and the world at large. Continue to fly the flag of
University well and always remember that UNIUYO is a brand, therefore preserve the
brand wherever you find yourself. I declare that it is truly well with you all.
AWARD OFHONORARYDEGREES
The award of honorary degrees to persons whose contributions to humanity in various
ways have impacted positively and resoundingly on society has been a time-tested
global practice and tradition in academe. During this ceremony, as in previous ones,
the Senate of the University of Uyo has approved the award of honorary doctoral degrees to three highly distinguished personalities who have made immense
contributions to the advancement and well-being of humanity from different flanks of
human endeavours. Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to announce to us
something very unique about this year’s awards. In all the previous convocations in
the life of this University, the honorary doctoral awards have always been made to two
males and one female. This year the University has reversed this order in the spirit of
gender equity and justice by conferring the awards on two females and one male. The
three honorary doctoral awardees are as follows:
CHIEFEFFIONG DANIELAFIAKURUE
He is the Chairman of Root-Care Pharmaceuticals. He was born into the family of
Late Chief Daniel Afiakurue of Uboro-Oro, Urue Offong Oruko Local Government
Area in Akwa Ibom State, on 13th February, 1958. He enjoyed a very steady career
and rose to the position of General Manager in the Oil and Gas sector. He served in this
position for 15 years when this career took him through the Cross River State
Teaching Service, Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity,
Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) where he retired in February 2018.
He is a Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Member, Computer
Society of Nigeria and Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (Chartered). Some
philanthropic works of Sir Afiakurue include: Building and equipping a computer
centre with internet connectivity at Mary Hanney Secondary School, Oron, and
sponsoring 20 students of Ritmam University since 2018 by paying their boarding
fees of 600,000 Naira per term. He had also awarded over 100 full scholarships to
students of Oro extraction studying in tertiary institutions of learning across the
country; and he had empowered over 200 widows and less privileged indigenes of
Oro nation. The Chief had also instituted an annual medical mission in Oro Nation
where sick people who cannot afford medical bills are treated free of charge: in the last
outing of the mission, four hundred and sixty five (465) patients were attended to and
about sixty five (65) of them underwent surgeries for various ailments. The nominee
has also established a worship centre in Urueoffong/Oruko LGA which also runs a
primary school for over 120 pupils up to primary six/secondary school under his
sponsorshipMRS. HALIMASADIYASULEIMAN
She is one of the most celebrated and sought-after icon in the secular world who has
carved a niche for herself. She holds a Master’s Degree in Project Management from
the Federal University of Dutse. She hails from Jigawa State in Nigeria. She is
Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea.
Currently, Mrs. Suleiman is the Chairman, African Modular Refineries Limited;
President and Chairman, Precision Financial Services Limited; Founder/Executive
Director, Nigeria-Canadian College; Manager/Director/CEO AGROMINBOTANIC Resources Limited; and also Managing Director, ENISHOL NIGERIA
LIMITED.
This rare personality was once awarded with Honorary Doctorate Degree by the
Canadian International Education Institute. She is a Fellow, Chartered Institute of
Corporate Administration of Nigeria. She is an ethnic-blind Nigerian who is versed in
Hausa, Fulani, English and Arabic languages.
DR ITANWAN ITAJAMES
Dr. Itanwan James was originally from Ikot Inyang Abia in Ukanafun Local
Government Area, but now an indigene of Ibesikpo Asutan LGA by reason of
marriage. She lives with her family in Eastvale, California, USA. Dr Itanwan James is
a registered nurse, an educator, a public health practitioner, a health consultant, an
entrepreneur and a positive change agent. Before leaving for the United States of
America, she had trained at the School of Nursing, Ikot Ekpene, and at the School of
Midwifery, Anua, Akwa Ibom State. It was from these two institutions that she
acquired the status of a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife. In the United
States, she obtained the Bachelor of Science and the Master of Science, both in
Nursing from the University of Phoenix, Arizona. Dr Itanwan James went to obtain
the Doctorate degree in Public Health from the Walden University, USA.
She is a respected nurse, educator, and public health advocate dedicated to the
empowerment of vulnerable populations. Her extensive contributions to healthcare,
education, and social development have made a lasting impact in both Nigeria and the
United States.
Through her various initiatives, Dr. Itanwan James has created a legacy of positive
social change that spans healthcare, education, economic empowerment, and social
welfare. Her work addresses both immediate needs and long-term systemic
challenges, contributing to sustainable development and the betterment of society. The ripple effects of her interventions will continue to inspire and uplift communities
for generations to come.
CHALLENGES
To the glory of God, my Management Team and I have put in our very best amidst all
the odds to take our dear University to a higher level in terms of infrastructure and
welfare, but, despite these huge sacrifices, a few disquieting issues have continued to
linger. The most prominent of these challenges are funding, staffing and
encroachment on University land.
Funding
The University of Uyo is not insulated from the funding challenges facing most public
institutions of learning in the country; but the situation here is a little special mainly
because of the Federal Government’s inability to avail the University of the Takeoff
Grant in 1991 when the University became a federal institution. As a result, the
University has been spreading thinly whatever resources it gets across the provision
of major capital projects and the recurrent expenditure on routine running costs. This
situation has been further aggravated by the positive development of increasing
attractiveness of candidates to the institution for admission. In some of the courses for
the current admission exercise, for instance, the cut-off mark is well over 300. Let me
therefore use this occasion to repeat my appeal to government at all levels,
organisations, individuals, corporate bodies, alumni and other associations to come to
the aid of the University in whichever way they can to enable us to sustain our
commitment to the provision of high quality tertiary education for our yearning young
ones. It is necessary to place on record that the last Visitation Panel did not only
sympathize with the University but also made special recommendation on this to the
Federal Government.
Staffing
Staffing, at the various levels and categories, has been a disquieting challenge facing
the University. Academic members of staff, for instance, have continued to dwindle in
numbers either due to retirement, relocation to places outside the country under the
“Japa” syndrome, switching to the private sector, death or going into politics.
Especially affected are the lower cadres, a situation which has made most of the
departments to become top-heavy and bottom- near empty in view of the shifting ofthe responsibility to recruit staff to other authorities outside the university system.
This situation has brought a lot of stress on the few existing members of staff, who are
being overworked in view of the ever-increasing student intake. This is why I, on
behalf of the University of Uyo Community, thank the Federal Government for the
delinking of universities to IPPIS, under which regime recruitment of new members
of staff experienced unprecedented bottlenecks. It is my prayer that true return to
status quo ante be quickened so that the University of Uyo, like its other counterparts
in the country, can have a new lease of life with regard to staffing.
Let me further appeal to the Federal Government to graciously complete the good job
of releasing the balance of the withheld staff salaries on account of the 2022 strikes by
staff unions. It is my belief that in the absence of every other incentive, this gesture
would certainly boost the morale of staff remaining in the system.
Encroachment on University Land
The University of Uyo remains grateful to the Federal Government for the financial
support, through the TETFund, towards commencement of the provision of a
perimeter fence to check the encroachment on University Land by some members of
the host communities. However, the ever-escalating inflation has drastically reduced
the value of the support received, and this has left the University stranded mid-way in
the execution of this project. I, therefore, repeat my appeal to the Federal Government
to ramp up its financial support to the institution to enable us to solve this nagging
problem once and for all time.
APPRECIATION AND CONCLUSION
The Chancellor and Chairman of this combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremony,
ladies and gentlemen, to round off this address, permit me to once again thank the
Almighty God for His grace and mercy which have prevailed throughout the course of
this historic university event. I am equally most grateful to the Visitor to our great
University, the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, the Executive
Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Chancellor of the
University of Uyo and Emir of Hadejia, His Royal Highness Alhaji Abubakar Maje,
CON, for always being there for the University as a good father.
I appreciate, on behalf of the University Community, the interventions and general
goodwill of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor (Dr.) Umo Bassey Eno, and members of his cabinet and other arms of the Government of Akwa
Ibom State.
I am also thankful to the Pro-Chancellor for the zeal and warmth he has displayed
towards the elevation of the University to greater heights since he assumed office just
a few months ago. The same gratitude goes to the members of the Governing Council,
the Convocation Lecturer, and the Distinguished Honorees. The past ViceChancellors are highly appreciated for their support. I appreciate the UNIUYO
Alumni, our special donors, the Representative of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund,
Principal Officers of the University, Members of Senate, Deans and Directors, Staff
and Students, Parents and Guardians, Members of the Convocation Planning
Committee, Members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen. I wish you all journey
mercies back to your destinations, and may the good Lord bless you all for your
patience and attention.