The staff, students and invited guests of the University of Uyo are currently assembled at the Permanent Site of the University in Nwanibia Road to inaugurate the incoming Vice-Chancellor and bid farewell to the outgoing one.
The out going Vice-Chancellor is Prof. Mrs. Comfort Ekpo who has been at the helms for power since 2010. She is the first female Vice-Chancellor of the institution. Today, she is handing over to Prof. Enefiok Essien who was the erstwhile Dean of the Faculty of Law in the same institution.
Prof. Essien is in the Department of Commercial and Property Law. The new VC went through the due process as enshrined in the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1993 and the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment ) Act 2003.
According to the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council of the institution, Prof. Kimse Okoko during a press conference in Uyo recently explained that at the commencement of the exercise on April 28, 2015, 19 applicants had indicated interest, adding that a shortlist of 11 applicants were cleared for the contest, but three scaled the hurdle at the selection interview jointly administered by the Senate and the Council of the institution.
After the test, Essien came top, having scored the highest number of votes to beat Prof. Ben Oghojiafor and Prof. Okon Ansa, respectively. The Council Chairman noted that throughout the whole period that the exercise lasted “the Selection Board did not receive any petitions from anybody or group against Prof. Essien”, adding that the only petition received against Prof. Ansa, was treated and thrashed out by the Board during interaction session.
The inauguration event is scheduled to end with the valedictory session organised for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor at the Onyeama Ogochukwu Hall of the University's town campus.
