UNICAL VC Welcomes Freshmen, Cautions against Vices

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has formally welcomed the newly admitted students of the 2024/25 academic session while warning them against negative vices.

Prof. Obi warned at the institution's International Conference Centre during an orientation ceremony for freshmen.

She assured the students of her administration's commitment to helping them achieve academic success but cautioned them to desist from situations that could lead to sexual harassment or abuse. 

While welcoming the freshmen, Prof. Obi warned them against negative vices like cultism, stealing, and examination malpractice, which could truncate their academic performance. 

She advised them to be law-abiding by effective use of the students' handbook.

The University Administrator urged the students to be humble and acquaint themselves with the rules and regulations of the school, desisting from all forms of anti-social activities.

Prof. Obi called on the students to stay focused and invest in quality academics, which would earn them good grades, even as she advised the female students to guard themselves to avoid being taken advantage of.

Speaking earlier, the Dean of Students' Affairs, Prof. Tony Eyang, welcomed the freshmen and urged them to take their academic pursuits seriously, noting that there were many distractions on campus.

Prof. Eyang stated that the essence of the orientation exercise was to guide the students on the rules and regulations, as well as provide them with information about the university's culture.

He reiterated that the orientation was meant to expose the students to all the requirements needed to excel academically, urging them to embrace the opportunity to learn from experts on campus while exhibiting good behaviour.

Similarly, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Angela Oyo-Ita, spoke on "Students' Online Registration, Course Unit System, Lecture Attendance, and Examination Malpractice and Miscellaneous Offenses."

She admonished the students to make their phones serve them and not otherwise. 

Prof. Oyo-Ita urged the freshmen to do everything possible to register for their courses, attend lectures, and stay focused on their academic pursuits to earn good grades.

On her part, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Grace Eno Nta, spoke on "University Administration, Channels of Communication, and Students' Welfare." 

She educated the students to communicate adequately by channelling their requests and complaints to the right office.

The orientation exercise also featured presentations on the" Role of Counseling in the University System" by Dr. Blessing, Ntamu,  Security Consciousness and Safety measures on campus"  by the Chief Security officer, Capt. Augustine Bisong (rtd), and "Students' Health Services on Campus" by the Director of Health Services, Dr. Kaiser Eta, among others.