16th March, 2024
Prof. Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UniCal) on Saturday bestowed Meritorious Service Award on 143 staff members of the institution for their outstanding performance in 2023.
The awards, which were given to both academic and non academic employees of the institution, were the second by the current administration in the university, the first being in 2022.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor disclosed that the school was proclaiming to the world that out of the about 8,000 staff of the institution, the awardees were outstanding.
Obi said that the staff were closely monitored as they went about discharging their duties.
“Many staff don’t come to work while some come, sign and leave; you are deceiving yourself because you think you are working for the VC when you should be working for God.
“Some staff work and close by 4 p.m. while some have no closing time as long as there is work to be done, it is these kind of selfless people that we are here to appreciate today,” she said.
She added that in her acceptance speech as the VC of the institution, she spoke of staff motivation and the need to reward the outstanding ones.
She noted that for the second year, UniCal appreciated the outstanding ones and would continue to motivate the staff to do more and take the university to greater heights.
On his part, Dr. Joseph Asor, Chairman of the Merit Award Committee, said the committee tried its best to be as transparent as possible, noting that no one close to a committee member was eligible.
“Our criteria for the award was hard work, a listening ear, interaction with other staff and students and other issues like sexual and financial uprightness in their dealings with students and staff.
“While we identified the best staff, we also identified the worst ones, even though we would not be announcing or publishing their names, we have met with them privately to desist or risk exposure in the next awards,” he said.
One of the award recipient, Prof. Andrew Essien from the Department of Theatre and Media Studies said he was happy that the little he was doing was acknowledged by the institution.
While thanking God and the school, Essien however added that the school should improve in staff monitoring, because it would make the staff to sit up and create room for more awardees.
Another lecturer who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mrs Constance Dien from the Department of Educational Foundation, said she initially thought it was a scam but gives glory to God for the award.
She said she was very delighted because she was not the best in her department but God has honoured her and she is encouraged to do better.
(NAN)