Research is soul of academics, says UNICAL VC

By George Odok

Prof. Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, has said that quality research remains the soul of academics in higher institutions of learning.

Obi said this on Tuesday in Calabar during the institution’s 35th convocation Research Fair and Exhibition.

She said that the university under her leadership was committed to enshrining thorough quality research and academic excellence.

She, however, said that public universities in Nigeria were not adequately funded to carry out research, hence the need for the Federal Government to make research in universities a priority.

The Vice Chancellor commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for supporting research and infrastructural development in universities, adding that UNICAL has been using the support judiciously.

“The essence of this research fair and exhibition is to showcase what the University of Calabar is doing in terms of research, craft, innovation and others.

“The fair gives us the opportunity to parley and promote the partnership between the gown and the town,” she said.

The Vice Chancellor thanked Fidelity Bank for partnering with the university for the exhibition, thereby calling on other corporate bodies to also come and partner with the university.

She thanked the Deans of various faculties for taking out time to prepare their items and materials for the exhibition.

Also speaking, Retired Gen. Martin Luther-Agwai, Pro-Chancellor of UNICAL, said that the VC has shown commitment towards research in the university.

He said from the exhibition he saw on ground, the university was on the right track towards academic excellence.

“We know there are challenges in funding, but I am sure that if we work in partnership with universities and corporate bodies, we will succeed.

“I must commend the VC, the research Directorate and the faculties for putting out a unique fair,” he said.

Earlier, Prof. Bassey Okon, Director of Research and Development, UNICAL, said there was no nation that has made great impact without research.

Okon said that the University of Calabar has made tremendous strides in the area of research and development.

He said the exhibition was to showcase the giant strides of the university and to invite friends and partners of the university to also come and showcase their exhibitions.

(NAN)