UNICAL VC Bags Most Outstanding Education Leadership Award

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof. Zana Akpagu has been awarded ‘’ the Most Outstanding Education Leadership Award’’ by a London-based media outfit, the Nigerian News Portal. This is however coming barely two months after he was awarded ‘the Best Performing Vice Chancellor’ from the Nigerian Print Journalism Magazine. Speaking while presenting the award to the Vice-Chancellor in his office, Publisher of the Nigerian News Portal, Chief Philip Agbese said the award was in recognition of his remarkable contributions to educational development in the country. Chief Agbese who was accompanied by board members of the media organization said the success story of UNICAL under Akpagu’s leadership has attracted global attention to the country, adding its image at the international level is loud and clear to the world that Nigeria with the right leadership is indeed the giant of Africa. He said Professor Akpagu bagged the award after weeks of online and social media voting by Nigerians. The Publisher said the Vice-Chancellor has performed beyond expectations especially in the prudent management of financial resources through accountability and transparency, infrastructural development which attracted TETFUND to name him as a member of the TETFUND Project Monitoring Committee. Under Akpagu’s watch, he said UNICAL has made history as the first tertiary institution in the country to fight against academic indiscipline such as plagiarism, intellectual property theft, examination malpractice, among others. Chief Agbese said the Akpagu’s administration has also blazed the trail by promoting ICT as a modern tool for learning and teaching in and outside the institution, adding that there has been great improvement in staff welfare and lecturers, accreditation of courses to enhance intake capacity and zero tolerance for cultism. In his acceptance speech, the Vice-Chancellor commended the Publisher and other board members of the media organization for conferring him with the award, adding that the award is the most cherished among the avalanche of awards he has received since he took over the helm of affairs of the institution. The Vice Chancellor who extolled the virtues of the Publisher described him as a man of character and integrity that would not compromise standards even as he urged him to keep doing the right thing, which he said, will make him excel in his chosen profession. He said, ‘’ this award means a lot to us and I am overwhelmed with emotions. It occupies the first position among other awards I have received.” Professor Akpagu who dedicated the award to the entire staff and students of the institution said he would not rest on his oars but strive hard to take the institution to greater heights. He said within the period he has been on the saddle, there have been curriculum expansion, adding that he has also embarked on massive infrastructural development in order to give the institution a facelift. Professor Akpagu said as the first alumni Vice Chancellor of UNICAL he would stop at nothing to ensure that the institution takes its pride of place, adding that before the end of his tenure, he would leave behind an indelible mark on the sands of time.