The management of the University of Calabar has organized a retreat for the 14th Governing Council of the institution at the Hilton Villa Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
In her opening address, Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, said the retreat aimed at deepening Council Members understanding of the Nigerian University System for optimal service delivery.
She added that the retreat was in recognition of the pivotal role Governing Councils play in the delivery of quality higher education, in the country, Africa and in the world at large.
According to her, the University Management designed the retreat in such a fashion that would offer all Council Members, a more enriching capacity building, far beyond the lessons gleaned from the Inaugural Council Retreat which took place in Abuja.
The VC explained that the University of Calabar is not only committed to the promotion of excellence in teaching, learning and research, but also in entrenching quality leadership at the highest level in the university.
She told the participants that in response to the resolution reached at the 169th Statutory meeting of Council, the University Management, organised the One-Day Retreat, with the full support of the charismatic Council Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, rtd. DIG. Obong Ekpoudom Udom.
The keynote paper of the retreat on the topic “Understanding the Statutory Organs in Nigerian Universities and Their Roles in the Effective Delivery of Teaching, Learning and Research”, was presented by Prof. Akaneren I. Essien, former Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, former Visiting Professor, NUC and Member, Governing Council, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The retreat also had diverse presentations of papers from quality speakers/resource persons including; Barr Ekpo Nta, Chairman, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission and former Chairman of ICPC who presented a paper on “Wages and Allowances for Council Members and Financial Responsibility in Nigerian Universities”.
Also a paper on “The Procurement Process, University Advancement and the Oversight Function of the National Assembly”, was presented by Dr Adedokun Adebiwale, Director-General Bureau of Public Procurement.
Similarly, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, Deputy Vice Chancellor, National Open University of Nigeria; and former Deputy Chief Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, also presented a paper on “Supervisory and Quality Control Role of NUC on Nigerian Universities”.
The Pro-Chancellor commended the resource persons for enriching their knowledge with their reach presentations, adding that their papers have further enlightened them on the working of the university system in Nigeria.
Other council members who spoke during the retreat commended the university management for organizing such a capacity building retreat with quality resource persons to deepen their understanding of the workings and operations of the university system in Nigeria.
Emmanuel Onwuka