By Frank Ulom, Nsan Neji
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Prof. Offiong Effanga Offiong has emerged as the 12th Substantive Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
He was elected in the selection process that was concluded on Thursday, 30th October 2025. The rigorous screening process, which started at 10:00 AM, involved a total of 10 aspirants being interviewed.
The Governing Council of the University later approved the appointment of Prof. Offiong as the Vice Chancellor designate.
He will succeed Prof. Florence Obi and will be sworn in in December 2025. His tenure will last for five years, from December 2025 to December 2030.
He is a professor of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
About Prof. Offiong E. Offiong
Prof. Offiong started his teaching/lecturing career in the then Department of Chemistry in 1985 as a Graduate Assistant and was upgraded to Assistant Lecturer in 1986 following his successful completion of MSc Deree and advancement to PhD.
He rose from Lecturer II in 1990 to become a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in 2002. He has so far successfully supervised and co-supervised seven Master’s and 13 PhD theses in the University. One of the theses won the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) award for the best thesis in the physical sciences in Nigerian Universities in 2012. He has also mentored/produced two (2) other professors in the Department.
Professor Offiong has won several grants/fellowships. These include International Cancer Research Technological Transfer (ICRETT) Fellowship (1987 & 1995), Grants-in-Aid of Research (1988 & 1989), Short Term Research Scholarship, Munich (Germany) and German Academic Exchange Service, Essen, Germany. He has also won several awards/honours, locally and internationally.
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Prof. Offiong teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Department. He has given several talks both in the University and in the public domain. Some of them include The Challenge of Low Educational Attainment in Efik Land: moving from Rhetorics to Action- a talk presented during the maiden edition of Obong of Calabar Executive Forum (OCEF) scholarship award scheme. 2015, Educational Rebirth in Efikland: a Panacea for love and unity- a keynote address during the Second Edition of Obong of Calabar Scholarship award in 2016, and Hope Waddell Proud Past, Hope for the Future- a Quasquicentennial Anniversary (125th anniversary) lecture of Hope Waddell Training Institution on March 7, 2020.
Prof. Offiong is a member of the editorial boards for many journals, including Journal of Applied Agricultural Research, Journal of Applied Sciences, Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, etc, as well as serving as a Reviewer for many International Journals. He has attended many local and international conferences where he made useful contributions.
He had also served the University system in several capacities including; Sub-Dean, Faculty of Science, Dean Faculty of Science, Dean of Students’ Affairs, Member, Governing Council of the University of Calabar (2000-2004), Chairman and Zonal Coordinator ASUU, National Vice President ASUU among others.
He also served his state, Cross River as Commissioner for Education, (2007 to 2015). During this period, the Schools across the 18 LGAS witnessed massive Infrastructural transformation, the first of its kind. The performance of CRS Students in WASCE rose from 22nd position to 7th and 6th in 2012 and 2013 respectively. His contributions to the establishment of the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM), Ugep and the reopening of previously closed down State-owned College of Education now University of Education and Entrepreneurial Studies) in Akamkpa speak volume to elucidate his sterling qualities and passion for Scholarship.
He was also the Chairman of All States Commissioner of Education in Nigeria from 2009 to 2015. Prof. Offiong served in the Presidential Task Team on Education with the mandate of Implementing a transformation agenda in Nigeria education system (2011-2015)
Prof. Offiong has won several international Fellowships/Awards through which he visited many laboratories/Institutions and Universities in several countries across the world. He has chaired many NUC ad-hoc accreditation panel to several Universities and Member Presidential Visitation Panel to ObafemiAwolowo University, Ile-Ife in 2021.
As part of his community and humanitarian services, he is the Immediate Past President of the Boys Brigade Nigeria (BBN), CRS Council (2013 to 2019) and a Ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria. He is currently the Chairman of Education committee in the Obong of Calabar Executive Forum (OCEF) and also the Chairman of Education Authority of the Presbyterian Schools in Nigeria.
His educational qualifications include First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) at St. Mary Primary School, Efut Abua, Calabar South (1971-1974); West African School Certificate (WAEC) at Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar (1974-1979); BSc (Hons) Chemistry at the University of Calabar, Calabar (1980-1984); PhD (Hons) Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Calabar, Calabar (1986-1990); and Certificate in Laboratory Equipment Maintenance at Bristol Polytechnic, Bristol, United Kingdom (1991-1991).
Prof. Offiong has over 70 research articles and 1,017 citations to his name.
He is married to Prof. (Mrs) Ame I. Offiong, a Professor of Finance at the University of Calabar. Their marriage is blessed with three children – Efanga, Asa, and Eme.
