UNICAL: VC facilitates NCF scholarships, signs Memorandum of Understanding
Emmanuel Alfred
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has facilitated scholarships and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF).
The current relationship between NCF and the University which started in 2021, was formalized by the signing of the MoU at the University Council Chamber.
According to the Director General of the Foundation, Dr. Joseph Onoja, in this relationship, NCF which has been in existence for about 40 years has agreed to among others provide scholarships to a minimum of four(4) Master’s and one(1) Doctoral students for the first period of five years.
The scholarships are intended for graduate students in relevant disciplines to undertake researches that would foster community-based efforts to preserve and conserve gorilla wildlife in Cross River State and the environment.
Accordingly, students selected for the scholarship would be admitted into any of the following departments at the University of Calabar:
•Environmental Education
•Environmental and Resource Management
•Forestry and Wildlife Resource Management
•Tourism Studies, and
•Zoology and Environmental Biology.
In her reaction, the Vice-Chancellor commended the NCF and recalled how the Foundation built her about 30 years ago.
She said the Foundation has assisted varsities with millions in human capacity building and development, noting that Environmental Education and Geography departments which are foremost disciplines today among others are offshoots of NCF.
According to her, many books were sponsored by NCF which have been of great importance to society.
Dignitaries present were; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof Angela Oyo-Ita, University Registrar, Mr. Gabriel Egbe, University Bursar, Mr. Joseph Odum, former Vice-Chancellor, UNICROSS and Head of Department, Forestry and Wildlife, Prof David Ogar, Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Prof Walter Binang, Dean of Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof Ajake Anim, Dean of Faculty of Biological Sciences, Okpok Okon, Dean of Students Affairs Division, Prof Tony Enyang, Heads of Departments among others.
