My Administration will Continue to Encourage Cross-Fertilization of Ideas --UNICAL VC

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi has stated that her administration will continue to encourage cross-fertilization of ideas with other institutions, Myschoolnews gathered.

Prof.Obi stated this while declaring open a one-day sensitization workshop organized by the University of Calabar in collaboration with the Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand and held at the Institution's Senate Chambers.

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The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Linkages and Collaborations, Prof. Peter Okafor, stated that cross-fertilization of ideas in the academia will aid scientific knowledge which will translate into productive ventures in society.

She further stated that the Institution had collaborated with other varsities in the area of exchange of academic programmes, adding that, some students and staff are currently undergoing training outside the country.

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Prof. Obi disclosed that the University Management will continue to support collaborations, to increase research productivity while assuring that more collaborations will be evident during the tenure of the current administration.

She revealed that the Institution is excited to collaborate with Kasertart University in the areas of aquaculture research, general agricultural research genetics and bio-technology-related research among others.

The Vice-Chancellor urged students and staff to give undivided attention to the presentations to enhance their knowledge and expertise.

Speaking earlier, the Dean Of Agriculture, Prof. Susan Ben Ohen while welcoming participants, thanked the team of lecturers from Kasetsart University for their presentations on current issues necessary for agricultural development.

Describing Unical as a place of research, knowledge sharing, linkages and collaborations, the Dean disclosed that the Faculty is constantly seeking and open to new ideas, as well as, opportunities for research and collaborations to actualize the Faculty's strategic goals.

She hinted that the faculty will take advantage of the opportunity to interact and further strengthen the pursuit for excellence after the workshop, even as she urged the participants to be attentive to all the presentations during the workshop with the theme: "Animal Bio-resource for Sustainable Agrobiodiversity".

Also speaking, the Director of, the Institute of Oceanography, Prof. Enin Udeme stated that the Oceanography family is interested in the collaboration because it falls within their domain, adding that, they will love working with the molecular fishery.

In a goodwill message, the President of Cross River State Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture, Mr. David Etim urged the Institution not to be an island but to reach out with confidence to share academic knowledge, to even industries, that will translate to something visible and beneficial.

This is even as he called for a tripartite collaboration between the Unical, Kasertart University and the Chambers of Commerce.

The event featured a key presentation on "Driving Sustainability with Genomics: Thailand's Agrobiodiversity Triumph" by Associate Professor, Kornsorn Srikulnath.

Other presentations include; "Integrating Wildlife Management and Health to Prevent Disease Outbreaks and Pandemics: Current Knowledge and Future Directions in Thailand" by Associate Professor, Prateep Duengkae and "Applying Wildlife Genomics to SDGs: Case Study in Lyle's Flying Fox (Pteropus lylei)" by Associate Professor, Aingorn Chayes.