By Christian Njoku
Calabar (Converseer) – The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has introduced a centralised admission system to eliminate racketeering, ensure transparency, and enforce strict compliance with approved carrying capacity.
This was disclosed by Prof. Offiong Offiong, Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL during the 38th Convocation Ceremony of the institution on Friday in Calabar.
Offiong said admissions would now be fully processed through the university’s Central Admission System, ending irregular practices and restoring integrity to student intake procedures.
He declared that the era of over-admission had ended, stressing the institution’s commitment to accountability and adherence to regulatory standards.
“I call for stronger collaboration with regulatory bodies to address inherited challenges and to reposition the university for academic excellence.
“These reforms align with broader institutional goals, including improved governance, academic quality, and global competitiveness,” he said.
Speaking further, the VC said the institution was graduating over 10,000 students across diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programmes.
He urged all stakeholders to support ongoing reforms to strengthen the university’s reputation and credibility.
emphasising that integrity in admissions remained critical to producing quality graduates and sustaining public trust in the institution.
On his part, the best graduating Student, Offiong Edet, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) attributed his academic success to determination, focus, and a clear sense of purpose throughout his university journey.
Edet said his experience was marked by challenges, including spending 13 months without shelter, yet maintaining perfect academic commitment, attending classes, and completing all assignments and examinations.
He noted that discipline and seriousness reduce academic stress, stressing that students who remain focused and committed are less likely to encounter difficulties during their studies.
He used the opportunity to urge authorities to ensure the timely release of results and stricter discipline, while encouraging students to remain determined, focused, and dedicated to achieving their academic goals.
The best graduating student received a sum of N500,000 from the Student Union Government of the institution while all 52 first-class graduates received the sum of N50,000 each.
