UNICAL: Akpagu’s Battles With Resurgent Cultists, By Nkechi Odoma

Cultism is one of Nigeria’s most nagging social problems. In work places, towns and cities or communities and even in somewhat sacred of places, there are large congregations of cultists. It has become a way of life for most teenagers who subscribe to various antagonistic cult groups. Worse still, is the often resort of cult members to brute and barbaric means of attacking and eliminating opponents or perceived enemies that make society groan under pains.

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The general affliction of society with the menace of cultism has permeated institutions of learning at all levels. Although, society generally suffers from cultism, but institutions, especially university campuses are most burdened by this scourge. It is a pandemic in virtually all Nigerian universities, which is more organized and freely practiced in most instances unchallenged.

However, with no intention of spiting any region of the country, southern-based institutions of higher learning are most plagued by this destructive virus of cultism. Dozens of youngsters or teenagers freely indulge in these reprehensible acts and derive inexplicable joy in terrorizing both schoolmates and lecturers. To uproot or reduce the menace of cultism to the barest minimum in any university campus in the South is akin to the Biblical camel passing through the eye of a needle. But it is not impossible to achieve this feat.

Understandably, university authorities have had rough and tough times in attempts to tame the monster. And there are instances, in Southern varsities where Vice Chancellors dread confronting the monster of cultism; hence the repercussions could include reprisal attacks on their person.

Calabar, the “Paradise City,” and capital of Cross River state negate this appellation by its famed status of cultism. Sometimes, one is startled by the number of deaths occasioned by clashes between rival cult gangs in the ever bubbling city.

For instance, in June 2016, the peace of Calabar city was violently punctured as rival cult groups engaged themselves in bloody clashes for days, over ownership of motorcycle association license, resulting in deaths and injuries. Such incidents recur frequently and sometimes, residents are forced to close down businesses or pleasure seekers retire home prematurely to avoid being trapped in fury of the cross fire of the warring cultists.

Hence, University of Calabar (UNICAL) is located in the heart of Calabar city, the institution has struggled to contain the infiltration of cultism into the campus over the years. And operating in an environment that appears to have a large dose of such debauches, make the job of completely eliminating the menace of cultism and sustaining a cult-free campus an uphill task for the university management. But the sternness in dealing with suspected cult-related issues have most times brought respite to the university environment.

UNICAL’s Vice Chancellor (VC), Professor Zana Akpagu has been able to sustain a cult-free campus, since he assumed duties in December 2015. Apart from treating suspected cultism cases with expediency, Akpagu does not spare any student indicted of involvement or association with cultism, as the appropriate punishments as prescribed by university laws are applied to serve as deterrence to others.

He has authorized the expulsion of scores of cultists since he mounted the saddle as VC, a sign of his intolerance of such social deviants and outlaws. In addition, Akpagu has not only beefed up security on campus, but launched security surveillance on students to monitor their clandestine activities, through which suspected cultists are fished out and summarily disciplined.

But psychologists say, old habits die hard. So, days back, the tranquil atmosphere in UNICAL was shattered when suspected fleeing cultists mowed down a student at the varsity’s area commonly called “Love Garden.”

The unfortunate incident of the assassination of a UNICAL lecturer in the Department of Accounting, Dr. Emmanuel Igbeng sparked the fresh cult clashes which led to scores of deaths. But the university promptly responded to the situation and according to the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Eyo Effiong, the school’s security team apprehended two of the fleeing cultists. This was confirmed by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, an indication that the arrested cultists, namely David Charles Job and Godwin Okpomo, will lead investigations into the arrest of the other escapee cultists or gang members.

Besides UNICAL security, matching cultists strength for strength, Professor Akpagu has also not failed to apply his humane disposition in tackling issues of campus insecurity, particularly in reference to cultism. He demonstrates to the led that he is not all combative based on his conviction that human beings can change for the better, if the appropriate platform is raised for them to appreciate the other meaningful side of life.

To this end, months back and in concert with a Non-governmental Organization, Campus Cult Eradication Foundation (CCEF ), he led the template for the renunciation of cultism by 40 students, some of whom were UNICAL students. The students who denounced cultism were initiates into cult groups like Pyrates confraternity, Vikings, Black Axe, Klans among others.

CCEF’s National Co-ordinator, Samuel Ejembi said at the event that “These 30 boys and 10 girls are ready to turn a new leaf…to renounce their membership of cultism.” It is a conduct of a father and administrator worthy of emulation because it is important to know that no human being should just be doomed or confined to the fate of destruction, but be offered the opportunity of repentance as espoused by all religious doctrines.

Therefore, Akpagu’s stick and carrot approach is spurred in his belief in the development of humanity, more than destruction. Students who are plotting a return of the reign of terror in UNICAL campus should have a rethink and would do themselves a lot of good by embracing the “carrot option” dangled before them by the VC. It is impossible to defeat Professor Akpagu and his team of management to re-introduce extreme and frightening terrorism on campus in the guise of cultism. Akpagu is genuinely described by admirers as a “home boy” and is abreast with the intricacies’ of the university and the community of its host, which incidentally is not just his home of birth, but also his home of development and workplace all through his adult life.

It is pertinent to state that no obstinate student, who clings unto cultism, shall escape his eagle eyes or overpower the varsity’s security vigilance and added to it, anyone found culpable would not be spared the rod. No stakeholder in the varsity should be in doubt that with Professor Akpagu on the throne as UNICAL’s VC, they are dealing with an old horse in the system.

And suffice it to say, it would be difficult, if not impossible for any criminal to dismantle his campus security apparatus put together to protect the institution. He came prepared and with a clear vision to deliver on his mandate, as prescribed by the “change” creed of President Muhammedu Buhari’s administration and no force is potent enough to shatter or frustrate this vision.

Odoma is a public affairs commentator and contributed this piece from Calabar.

UNICAL: Blazing the trail in academic excellence

By: Best Amor

The quality of public education in Nigeria is generally acclaimed to be poor. Tertiary institutions in the country, which compete in number with stars in the skies, are most badly hit by this plaque. And many reasons are adduced for these fallen standards in education, which experts blame majorly on inadequate manpower, corruption of the system and unfocused/unproductive leaderships of higher institutions in the country.

However, there are a few exemptions of institutions which are carving a niche in the academic excellence today, in spite of the pathetic decay.

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The University of Calabar (Unical), in Cross River, Nigeria has proudly joined the league by conquering the entanglements that have bungled university education in most public institutions in the country. The varsity has sauntered unto the stage and heading towards the Hall of Fame among distinctive universities in the country with the enthronement of a multi-linguist, Professor Zana Itiunbe Akpagu as the Vice Chancellor in December of 2015.

Widely reputed as an organized, disciplined, stern and focused administrator, Akpagu has changed the wobbling fortunes of the university within the short time of his ascension to power. His years of romance with same university community since his undergraduate, postgraduate and years of working experience, where he rose to the position of Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) have made him a master of his new assignment. He has floating knowledge about the peculiarities and intricacies of running the varsity. In effect, his elevation as the Vice Chancellor is just like walking on a familiar turf, having started from the lowest rung of leadership in the varsity.

Just yesterday, UniCal had the unenviable reputation of an active hub for cultism and exam malpractices. The trend became so fearsome that it scared both parents and prospective students from selecting UniCal as an institution of choice for studies. But the tide has positively changed unbelievably under Akpagu.

The university management has not only increased security vigilance on campus, but has no sacred cows in handling students suspected of cultism and associated vices, which are inimical to sound moral upbringing and learning. The standing disciplinary committee mandated to treat such cases, handle them with dispatch, availing accused students fair hearing and passing out verdicts in tandem with the level of culpability of individuals in accordance with the prescriptions of school laws.

This stern and strict response to campus vices by the university management has served as deterrence and compelled many students to renounce the evil. It is often claimed UniCal is the freest university campus South of Nigeria. This new aura of peace and tranquility on campus has translated into academic excellence as students devout more time to academics and those who are naturally committed to their studies are not unnecessary harassed and intimidated by wayward groups or cult gangs, which accounts for the soaring profile of the university in academics.

In addition, since an institution is rated mainly based on its academic excellence, Akpagu has kept an eagle eye on the quality of teaching and learning on both lecturers and students. This has yielded bountifully; as during its 29th convocation ceremony in 2016, Unical produced 12 first class graduates in various disciplines of studies. Sure of the quality of the products it is offering to the Nigerian labour market, Akpagu offered automatic employment to these 12 distinctive graduands to fortify the manpower base of the university.

At the pre-convocation press conference, Akpagu disclosed that 30 students were either expelled or suspended from the University for such Vices on campus, including exams malpractice, cultism and social other vices.

Similarly, academic staff who have decided to corrupt their academic purity and polluted the sanctity of knowledge have not been spared the rod. Under Prof. Akpagu as the VC, a Professor and a Doctorate degree holder indicted by a disciplinary committee set up by management to investigate allegations of plagiarism on them, found the senior lecturers guilty. They were retired from the services of the university. Though, the university system in Nigeria is full of such copycats, they are hardly penalized. The punitive action on the defective lecturers is a rare disciplinary measure taken on varsity academic staff in Nigeria. And proof that the university acted conscientiously and unbiased, even the ever belligerent ASUU never rose in their defence.

The uncompromising stance of the university’s current leadership has kept both staff and students on their toes. Students have confessed freedom from harassments and extortion for marks by lecturers; much as students are also aware that since a certificate is awarded at the end of the years of study based on “character and learning,” they have embraced the new code of conduct introduced by Akpagu.

Students have not only dumped cultism en masse, but can now differentiate between decent and indecent dressing. An aerial pictograph of students at Unical, no longer assaults your eyes with shadows in the semblance of porn actors on display, but decent Nigerians, young boys and girls, who are conscious of self-worth and dignity.

They know the university campus is a veritable stepping stone to character moulding in their aspirations to become good leaders in future and ambassadors of Nigeria, wherever the tide of life flings them to habitate in work or business.

To ensure a halt in the disruption of academic calendar, Professor Akpagu’s responsive leadership listens to complaints from both teaching and non-teaching staff and acts expediently in accordance with the extant laws of the university to address the issues. The prompt attention accorded to disputes is largely responsible for the seamless working relationship and the atmosphere of calm and peace on campus. It is devoid of confrontation of any kind or industrial unrest as, ensuring a smooth academic calendar which is diligently implemented without hitches.

Therefore, when the VC rose against the former bursar of the university, Mr. Peter Agi, who was eventually sacked, it was not all about his perceived fraudulent acts, but also because both staff and students complained loudly and widely about his highhandedness in administering the finances of the university, a development Akpagu reckoned could someday rock the prevailing peace on campus and disrupt academic work, if not checked.

To make research easy and at the disposal of lecturers and students, facilities at university’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) unit have been fully upgraded and standardized to render 24-hour service to the university community. New arrivals of textbooks have become the constant feature of the university library. And Akpagu has launched a N10 billion endowment fund for capital projects to further expand facilities or equip laboratories to make teaching and learning more fun than stress.

The VC has infinite interest in refreshing the knowledge of staff, particularly, academic staff. Some senior lecturers of the university are encouraged to research. Some of them have been enlisted on the sabbatical and internship programme of The Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC) Joint Venture for research in diverse fields. The knowledge acquired would be of immense benefits to students and the university community generally.

With Akpagu on the saddle, Unical has become the newest bride, as Nigerians seek for knowledge. It is unarguably one of the choicest destinations for both parents and students, when contemplating the choice of an institution for knowledge acquisition and upright moral upbringing. May God Almighty continue to imbue Professor Akpagu and his team with the fertile wisdom in order to lift Unical in excellence beyond the expectations of Nigerians in a manner that will confer prestige on Nigeria when universities are rated around the world.

This is the essence of the #ChangeBeginsWithMe campaign, as launched by President Muhammedu Buhari. It is meant to encourage Nigerians to demonstrate their impact wherever they are chosen to lead. Professor Akpagu is on the same page with President Buhari and it explains the chorus of “Mr. Change,” whenever he is sighted on Unical campus.

Indeed, UniCal has embraced change! Someday, the story will be told of how stood against the forces of evil to restore the institution to glory.

The many positive reports that emanated from the convocation is a clear indication that Professor Akpagu has restored pride to UniCal and evrryone associated with UniCal can now hold thier heads high up with pride.

Amor is a public affairs commentator and contributed this piece from Calabar.

Professor Zana Itiunbe Akpagu: UniCal’s Quintessential Don And Administrator, By Philip Agbese

Professor Zana Itiunbe Akpagu
UNICAL's Vice Chancellor

Former American first lady, Rosalynn Carter once gave a recipe of the outcomes of a good leader. She enunciated that, "A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be." The emergence of Professor Zana Itiunbe Akpagu as the 10th Vice Chancellor(VC) of the about 42 year-old University of Calabar, in Cross River state, Nigeria, came at the most auspicious time in the history of the institution.

Certain events do not just happen. At a phase in history, some leaders are divinely ordained to saunter on board the stage for a rescue mission. The appointment of Professor Akpagu, an Obudu-born reputable scholar of Modern Languages and Translations to lead his alma mater resonates with the trappings of providence where God Almighty Himself has anointed an exceptional academic and insider to turn around the plummeting fortunes of this great institution.

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Professor Akpagu’s appointment elicited instant jubilation and a socio-political organization in Cross River state by the nomenclature of ”Destiny Group” feted him to a lavish reception. The Director General of the body Barrister Joe Edet during the reception poured endearing emotions which has remained the guiding principle for the VC. 

He said “Professor Zana, you are one of us and let it be on record today that we will always support you and we will not hesitate to tell you too if you are not doing according to what you promised both the lecturers and the students of the University of Calabar”

This appears to be his covenant with his community, the university and Nigeria, which he holds sacrosanct. He knows a wrong step or poor leadership of the institution would disappoint his community as their ambassador to the outside world. And so far, he has measured up to expectations.

Sequel to the inauguration of Prof. Akpagu as the Vice Chancellor on December 1st, 2015, he served the institution in various capacities, including Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Administration. Thus ennobled, the multi-lingual icon clearly understands his briefs in the university community which his esteemed colleagues deemed him worthy to head.

In brief remarks, Akpagu, summarized his focus at Unical to include improvement in the Information Communication Technology, welfare of students and staff, development of infrastructure on campus, shore-up IGR, accord maximum attention to academic excellence and discipline in all fields in order to reposition this second generation university on a higher pedestal as a citadel of learning. His apt sense of the working environment in the university is gleaned from his knowledge of the institution both as a student and teacher of several years. He knows it inside out and which step would lead to best results.

Generally reputed as a humble, but vibrant academic, the VC set out to prove his mettle. As an ardent believer in the change doctrine of the APC national government in Nigeria, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, what consistently assails his mind is the best way to blend the etiquette of change with the usual radicalism of university communities to enthrone a conducive learning environment and achieve academic excellence.

As a team player, he cordially interfaced and interacted with the different segments and interests in the university community on what paths to collectively follow or measures to adopt to realize the objectives outlined in his blueprint for the university. Akpagu seamlessly extracted from all categories of workers a commitment to duty, discipline, hard work, transparency and accountability and the unflinching pursuit of academic excellence by both teachers and students.

And in the last one year, Unical has mutated from its sleepy status to an institution that is fast undergoing an incredible positive transformation in a wide range of areas. This is attested by the multiple evidence of academic excellence with scores of students graduating with first class degrees in specialised disciplines, something regarded as gold in academic circles and setting of new academic records; and the students he offered automatic employment in his desire to retain the best brains for the varsity.

Professor Akpagu is a workaholic and a man who holds unto the inviolable sanctity of promises he makes. In the quest to tackle his pledge of infrastructural improvements on campus, the VC launched a N10 billion Endowment Fund to independently fund capital projects like new lecture halls/ classrooms, offices, hostels, sports facilities, furniture, laboratories, library resources and a hordes of others. And there have been positive responses from well-meaning Nigerians to assist him in the actualization of this vision for the institution.

In demonstrating his abhorrence to fraud of any sort, whether academic or financial, Professor Akpagu never spared staff or students of the institution fingered in acts inimical to the progress of the university, as he implemented all decisions of panels of inquiries on such matters or recommendations of the university management on erring staff.

At least, within a short time in office, the VC has sacked two lecturers for academic plagiarism and the former university bursar Mr. Peter Agi for allegations of series of official malfeasance, including criminal impersonation of the Vice Chancellor on the financial transactions of the university.

Commenting on the case of the pro-plagiarism lecturers, Akpagu thundered, “This administration that I am leading has zero tolerance for indiscipline on the part of lecturers, non- teaching staff and students. We want to make a difference. So, we are not ready to tolerate indiscipline, be it forgery, plagiarism, exam malpractice, stealing, rape and other vices.

He has vowed against delayed convocation and since he took over, the university convocates timely as the next convocation ceremony for graduates of the last academic session is underway.

As former dean of students’ affairs, his instant response to problems of students has forever endeared him to students. His no-nonsense posture and the overall entrenchment of peace and industrial harmony in the university has earned him the appellation of “Mr. Change.”

While insisting on standards, Professor Akpagu discharges his responsibilities diligently, with the fear of God, and would not compromise on ethical values which crucially reshapes society. He is loved and adored across the various segments of the university community. Rarely do staff and students wholeheartedly accept the leadership of universities such as Vice Chancellors. But Akpagu has crossed this ribicon as even students rise in support of him against forces bent on resisting the change he has implanted in the university.

Professor Akpagu’s administrative dexterity is an accumulation of years of leadership experience as former Commissioner for education in Cross River State under Governors, Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke; as member, Unical Governing Council, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and also a member of the University Senate and eventually DVC.

His Obudu community celebrated him with the conferment of the chieftaincy title of “Ushikebe 1 of Ipong”. He is also the "otebeche 1 of yala" and "ntufam amid ejagam 1" of the qua nation. And in spite of the rigours of academics and burden of administration, Professor Akpagu devotes time to his religious actives. He is a Knight of the Order of Saint Mulumba (KSM) in the Catholic Church and has subscribed to numerous learned societies including the Association for the Study of Caribbean and African Literature in French (ASCALF), Britain.

At last redemption has berthed in Unical and Professor Akpagu is the armour bearer of the message of redemption laced in the mantra of change as propagated and espoused by President Buhari. With this much zeal and push to succeed, it is certain that after five years, under Akpagu as VC , Unical will exude visible, unprecedented splendor on all fronts.

Agbese is the Publisher, The Nigerian Online Newspapers.