Judex Okoro, Calabar
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) will, on Saturday, May 12, honour three illustrious sons including Chairman of NDDC Board, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Haliru Kitoro, and late Chief Michael Archibong with Honorary Doctorate Degrees at its 31st convocation ceremony.
While Ndoma-Egba, the former Senate Leader, would be conferred with Doctor of Laws, (Honoris Causa), Barr. Muhammad Sani Haliru Kitoro IV, Emir of Borgu Kingdom (Niger State) would be conferred with Doctor of Business Administration, as well as Late Chief Michael Archibong, who will be honoured with a posthumous award, in Doctor of Business Administration.
Briefing newsmen on activities lined up for the epoch-making occasion, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Zana Akpagu, said the awardees were selected based on their positive contributions to the society and particularly to the school in the last couple of years.
Akpagu disclosed that while Ndoma_Egba had contributed immensely to the growth of the law faculty in the University, the late Archibong would always be remembered for donating a clinical hostel to medical students of the university in the early 80s and the Emir of Borgu Kingdom for fostering peace among the traditional institution across the country.
On how students are convoking, the Vice Chancellor disclosed that 11, 807 graduands would be awarded degrees in their various fields with 42 of them emerging with 1st class.
According to him, “11, 807 graduands will convoke in the 31st convocation ceremony out of which 7957 earned 1st degrees, 1,624 Diplomas and 2226 Post graduate degrees.
“Out of the 7957 candidates with first degrees, 42 will be awarded 1st class degrees, 1, 940 2nd class upper degrees, 4, 860 2nd class lower degrees, 1005 third class degrees and 110 pass degrees.
He disclosed that the 110 candidates who will received the pass degrees will be the last set of graduands from the institution that will ever secure this set of degrees.
He added that, “The management of the University of Calabar will no longer award pass degrees in line with the governments directive that tertiary institutions should no longer issue such degrees and disclosed that the minimum degree that will henceforth be awarded by the institution will be the third class degree which he described as “the gentleman’s degree”.
As part of the ceremony, he said about 40 projects are ongoing and a number of them that have been completed within the last one year will be commissioned including the Hogan Bassey Car park as well as the Godswill Akpabio Engineering complex.