By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has renamed its International Conference Centre after Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Converseer reports that the renaming follows the 50th-anniversary celebration which took place in March this year.
During the anniversary, which coincided with the University’s 37th convocation, Akpabio was also honoured with a Doctorate Degree, as well as the Minister of FCT Barr Nyesom Wike, and several others.
The Senate President, who was also inducted into the UNICAL Hall of Fame, donated two buses for the Students Union Government (SUG) as well as LAWSAN (Law Students Association of Nigeria) students.
Speaking during the occasion, Senator Akpabio, recalled with nostalgia his journey as a student at the University of Calabar.
Making his contributions, Akpabio said, “I have a brand new bus for the Faculty of Law and another for the Student Union Government of this university since I was a former Speaker of the SUG. I encourage you to take your education seriously and urge us to support the growth of education and the university. I dedicate this award to the glory of God.”
Shortly after the anniversary, the conference centre was renamed to ‘Sen. Godswill Akpabio UNICAL Int’l Conference Centre’.
For the honour, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Florence Obi, explained that it was the university’s way of appreciating the contributions of its alumni to the growth of education and society.
Adding “We are celebrating 50 years of impactful service to the growth of humanity. Right from 1975 when the University of Calabar was founded, we have graduated nearly 200 thousand graduates, who are leaving their imprints across the globe. These alumni have, in their different fields, contributed to the development of humanity and Nigeria in particular.”
