By Christian Njoku
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) on Friday honoured 143 staff members of the institution in the 2023, Meritorious Service Award.
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 was in 2022.
Addressing the awardees and other staff present, Prof. Florence Obi, Vice Chancellor of UNICAL disclosed that the school was proclaiming to the world that out of the about 8,000 staff of the institution, the awardees stood-out.
Obi told the staff that as they worked, people were watching them even though they may not come openly to commend or condemn them.
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“Many staff don’t come to work or 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.
The VC added that in her acceptance speech as a VC, she spoke of staff motivation and today, for the second year they were doing it and would continue to motivate the staff to do more and take the university to limelight.
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 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 initially, she 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, she was encouraged to do better.
(NAN)
