With simply six months to the tip of the tenure of the present vice chancellor of the College of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo, the race for the choice of his successor has commenced in earnest. One of many main candidates is Prof. Chris Ekong, Dean of the School of Social Sciences. If he’s picked, he could be the second alumnus of the establishment and the second professor of economics to go the establishment in its 44-year historical past. The incumbent can also be an alumnus who grew to become VC in December 2020. A famend economist, the well-known Prof. Akpan Ekpo, was VC between 2000 and 2005.
“Every council tries as a lot as doable to insulate the method from exterior influences, however in lots of circumstances, nationwide political leaders nonetheless play some roles within the background.”
Vice chancellors are appointed by the governing council of the college after a rigorous choice course of that features interviews with the council. On the finish of the method, Council members vote for his or her most popular candidates, and sometimes one of many high three candidates is introduced because the winner. In contrast to up to now, the President, who’s the Customer to the College, doesn’t play an overt function within the choice course of. Every council tries as a lot as doable to insulate the method from exterior influences, however in lots of circumstances, nationwide political leaders nonetheless play some roles within the background. That’s the place Prof. Ekong has a bonus over others on this race. I perceive that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is in full assist of Ekong’s ambition and is keen to do as a lot as he can to help. On this dispensation, Akpabio holds appreciable sway.
On the celebration of Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, spouse of the Senate President, on the banquette corridor of their palatial nation house in Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, June 9, Senator Akpabio launched Ekong as “one of many professors who wish to be VC’’. However when the microphone acquired to Mrs Akpabio for her remarks, she introduced him as “the following Vice Chancellor of the College of Uyo’’. It was a high-octane occasion with Aliko Dangote; three senators – Aniekan Bassey of Akwa Ibom North East and Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North Central) and Ms Usoro Akpabio, the MD of the South-South Growth Fee – in attendance. After the lavish occasion, many rallied round Ekong, congratulating him.
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President Tinubu has simply appointed an APC chieftain and eminent lawyer, Mr Muiz Banire, SAN, because the Chairman of the Council of the college after retired Basic Ike Nwachukwu turned down the appointment for “private causes”. Banire was a senior lecturer on the College of Lagos (1991–2010) and commissioner for particular duties, transportation and setting in Lagos beneath Governors Tinubu and Raji Fashola. Within the Buhari administration, he was Chairman of AMCON. He’s been a member of NJC since 2017. Banire is a dyed-in-the-wool APC chieftain.
Professor Chris Ekong himself can also be an APC chieftain from Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom State. However in a current occasion, he introduced that he’d be withdrawing from political actions going ahead to focus on his job. Ekong was a commissioner within the administrations of Obong Victor Attah and Godswill Akpabio. Popularly referred to as HOTRICO by mates and associates, Ekong has been Head of the Division of Economics on the college and has additionally held many different positions inside and outdoors the college. He graduated with a B.Sc. (Hon) in Economics from the College of Uyo in 1988 (then referred to as the College of Cross River State); an M.Sc. in Economics from the College of Port Harcourt (1991); and a Ph.D. in Economics from the College of Uyo (2002).
Professor Ekong has revealed extensively in native and worldwide journals.
Up to now, no fewer than 5 professors have expressed curiosity within the job. They embody Idara Akpan, Enoidem Usoro and Daniel Offiong. Offiong is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) whom the incumbent VC is rooting for as a successor. The truth is, a controversial clause within the press commercial for the job which specifies that candidates will need to have revealed 10 journal articles in two years is alleged to have been inserted to favour Offiong. The requirement has, nevertheless, been broadly disputed by older professors. “Except you might be publishing in a roadside journal, it’s virtually unattainable to have 10 publications in respected journals in two years’’, a former VC of UniUyo informed me.
Etim, a retired banker, is the writer and editor-in-chief of Coverage and Politics.
