The University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) Alumni Association has called on the university’s governing council to ensure a transparent and merit-driven process in nominating candidates for the Vice Chancellor position, as the institution prepares to confirm a substantive head.

The call, made in a statement by the association’s National Secretary, Njang Ndoma, followed an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), where members unanimously endorsed the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Bassey, for the role.

The association praised Prof. Bassey for what it described as “exceptional leadership” since her appointment five months ago as Acting VC, citing major strides in infrastructure, staff welfare, and alumni engagement.

They alluded to her success in attracting investor-backed hostel projects in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), and securing state government support for internal reforms.
SIMILARLY, clinical lecturers at the University of Calabar have called off their indefinite strike and resumed academic duties, following a resolution of the dispute over the university’s Vice Chancellor selection process.

The lecturers, under the aegis of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), embarked on the strike on June 13, protesting their exclusion from the application process for the Vice Chancellor position due to what they described as discriminatory job criteria.

In a memo signed by MDCAN’s UNICAL Chapter Chairperson, Dr Patience Odusolu, and Secretary, Dr Ehiosun Aigbomian, the group demanded the withdrawal and reissuance of the job advertisement, citing the exclusion of medical fellowship holders in favour of candidates with PhDs.