PRES. GEJ TO GRACE UNICAL 40TH ANNIVERSARY & CONVOCATION AS NINE BAGS FIRST CLASS

All is now set for the batch 2012-2013 graduation, the 40 anniversary and 28th convocation ceremonies of the University of Calabar.

The convocation lecture titled; "The role of religion in national building" will be delivered by an alumni and a cleric, Arch Bishop Tunde Adeleye of the Anglican Communion.

 

The 7,811 graduates comprises of those with First Degrees, Masters and PhDs will receive their certificates at the convocation ceremony which comes up on Saturday, tomorrow.

On the graduates list, "nine bagged First Class, the highest since ten years ago“. 772 graduated with Second Class Upper and 4,152 had Second Class lower. 1,759 are going home with third class to join the already saturated labour market.

 

The Vice Chancellor, Prof James Epoke made these disclosures Thursday in Calabar during a pre convocation press briefing to unfold activities lined up for the week.

 

"The University of Calabar started in March, 1975 and will be 40 this year" adding that from three faculties at inception, with 120 students, the university today has over 30,000 with 11 faculties.

 

Epoke listed achievements of the university in the area of research to include the cure for malaria without the use of tablets. This, the VC said could be achieved through the use of a plaster gummed on the back of the patient and radiations through the plaster will do the magic.

 

Another area of break-through in research he mentioned is that a PhD candidate generated gas from waste products while others have improved seedlings for cassava adding, "our Fisheries Department made a break-through and can now produce Finger lings massively, enough to feed the Geographical zone" Epoke said.

 

In the area of manpower, the VC said the university has produced great men and women listing some of the alumni to include Gov Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Image Maker of President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati, Justice Osuji in the World Court amongst others.

 

Epoke said the university recorded nine first class this year because the atmosphere is now concussive adding, "there is no sorting any longer but the students have resorted to impersonation" which he described as the latest wave of crime.

 

He thanked the host community, the Federal Government through TEDFUND and Alumni for their various contributions towards taking the institution to greater heights.