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Tag: UNICROSS

  • UNICROSS Graduate Remanded Over WhatsApp Protest Voice Note

    UNICROSS Graduate Remanded Over WhatsApp Protest Voice Note

    By Asuquo Cletus

    A graduate of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Martins Eyam, has been arrested and remanded in prison custody following a voice note circulated on WhatsApp in which he criticized the institution’s “No Fees, No Exams” policy and called for a peaceful protest.

    Eyam, a recent graduate of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, allegedly shared a voice message across student platforms, condemning the university’s decision to bar students who had not paid their school fees from writing examinations. In the message, he urged students to unite and protest against what he described as an “oppressive and inconsiderate” policy.

    Sources within the university confirmed that the voice note reached the office of the Acting Vice Chancellor, who reportedly interpreted the message as an incitement capable of disrupting the peace on campus. Subsequently, the university authorities alerted security operatives, which led to Eyam’s arrest.

    According to student sources, Eyam was arrested on Monday, April 14 by operatives of the local security outfit known as Operation Okwok. He was allegedly remanded in prison the same day.

    Speaking anonymously, a student leader said, “Martins was invited for a meeting and was told, ‘If you want to be like VeryDarkMan (a known social activist) without money, you will suffer.’ Later that same day, he was arrested and taken to prison.”

    In the voice note obtained by Primetime, Eyam appealed for solidarity among students, urging those who had paid their fees to stand with those who could not afford to. He argued that the institution should not prevent students from sitting for exams due to financial hardship and criticized the suspension of student leaders who had opposed the policy.

    Part of his message read:
    “Students must learn to know that we all are one, irrespective of your financial buoyancy… If you’ve been able to pay your school fees, another person is struggling… It’s duty bound on the whole entire class… to say, let them write the exam or none of us will write.”

    He further criticized the administration’s response to student leaders who opposed the policy, stating: “They stood against the school management… because they were elected to be a voice to the voiceless.”

    Eyam concluded by calling on student leaders to engage the school’s management constructively and advocate for better communication and understanding between students and authorities.

    When contacted, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Francisca Bassey declined to comment directly on the issue, stating, “I will give you the contact of someone that you can talk to on the issue, please.”

    The incident has sparked concerns among student groups and human rights advocates over freedom of expression and students’ rights to protest. Efforts to reach the university’s public relations office for an official statement were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

  • C’River Assembly recommends Immediate Suspension of Four UNICROSS Governing Council members

    C’River Assembly recommends Immediate Suspension of Four UNICROSS Governing Council members

    The State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate suspension of Dr. Emmanuel Ettah, Dr. John Inah Ukam, Professor Mathew Nsing Ogar, and Professor Stephen Ochang, members of the 5th Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) for alleged misconduct and abuse of office.

    The House had deliberated on a petition by A. B. Cobham and Associates ( legal practitioners, Corporate and Real Estate Consultants) solicitors to Mr Emmanuel  Eyo, the petitioner.

    Opening debate on the petition, the Leader of the House and Member representing Odukpani State Constituency, Rt Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo, drew the attention of Members to the allegations of gross misconduct against; Dr Emmanuel Ettah, Dr John Inah Ukam, Prof Mathew Nsing Ogar and Prof Stephen Ochang during their tenure as Members of the 5th Governing Council of UNICROSS.

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    The allegations as stated in the petition include; Illegal Tenure Extension and Unlawful Sale of University Property. The petition indicates that Dr. Emmanuel Ettah refused to vacate office at the expiration of their tenure in September 2023 and also sold University Property between May and August 2024, almost a year after the expiration of their tenure. The petition also emphasized that the auctioning of University Equipment was in total violation of the Public Procurement Act and the Bureau of Public Procurement.

    The Lawmakers, in their separate contributions, while deliberating on the petition, viewed the action of Dr Emmanuel Ettah and Co as a total violation of the Extant Laws establishing the University. They further stressed that the State Government’s policy on the non-extension of tenures by public officers is still in force and emphasized that the continued stay in office of the Council Members after the expiration of their tenure is illegal.

    They thereafter adopted the resolution moved by the Leader, Rt Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo(Odukpani ), and seconded by the Deputy Leader Rt Hon Davies Etta(Abi)  which states in part;
    “having unanimously agreed, the House recommends the immediate suspension of Dr. Emmanuel Ettah, Dr. John Inah Ukam, Professor Mathew Nsing, and Professor Stephen Ochang. They are to be suspended from all activities of the University until a proper investigation is carried out by the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution.”

    The Speaker, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem reaffirmed the 10th Assembly’s commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and good governance. He assured that the House will carry out a thorough investigation on the matter and thereafter make appropriate recommendations to the Governor who is the Visitor to the University.

  • C’River Govt Vows To Unmask Those Behind Sale Of UNICROSS Assets

    C’River Govt Vows To Unmask Those Behind Sale Of UNICROSS Assets

    The Cross River State Government, under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu, has commenced an extensive investigation into the alleged illegal sale of about 400 assets belonging to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) by the institution’s previous council.

    Leading the government’s delegation, the Special Adviser on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr. Gilbert Agbor had earlier informed the Vice Chancellor of the Institution that they were in the school at the instance of the governor who had requested thorough investigation into several petitions against the former governing council members over sales of about 400 properties belonging to the institution with following due process. He added that there have also been petitions and complaints over encroachment into the school’s land by neighboring communities.

    After taking an on-the-spot assessment of the schools, Barr. Agbor confirmed to journalists that preliminary findings indicate the allegations are valid. He disclosed that several vehicles and a 500 kV generator listed in the petitions could not be found, reinforcing concerns about the unauthorized disposal of government property.

    To address land encroachment, Agbor stated that the government will take decisive steps, including blocking the main access road to unauthorized construction sites and evicting illegal occupants. He warned that anyone found complicit in the illegal sale or occupation of university land would be held accountable, regardless of their status.

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    During the on-site assessment, Acting Vice Chancellor of UNICROSS, Professor Francisca Bassey, expressed deep concern over the encroachment challenges, noting that the university was originally designed for a much smaller student population. She emphasized that reclaiming the land is critical for expanding infrastructure to accommodate the growing student body and improve learning facilities.

    Echoing the government’s commitment, the Economic Adviser to the Governor, Professor Peter Oti, underscored that land encroachment and abandoned projects negatively impact the state’s economy. He assured that the administration would restore order and ensure that public assets serve their intended purposes.

    The move by Governor Otu’s administration signals a strong commitment to protecting state-owned properties, reclaiming encroached lands, and fostering an enabling environment for academic and economic development in Cross River State.

  • Cross River Gov’t Uncovers Shocking UNICROSS Alleged Asset Looting Scandal – Officials Face Reckoning

    Cross River Gov’t Uncovers Shocking UNICROSS Alleged Asset Looting Scandal – Officials Face Reckoning

    A dark cloud looms over the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) as the Cross River State Government uncovers what appears to be a brazen, calculated looting of public assets by the institution’s former Governing Council members. In a move that has sent shockwaves across the state, officials entrusted with safeguarding the university’s resources allegedly sold off valuable assets to themselves in a secretive, illegal auction.

    For months, these individuals operated in the shadows, reportedly disposing of over 400 government-owned items between May and August 2024. Among the assets was a 500KVA generator installed just in 2015, eight industrial generators, and several official vehicles, including one donated by the previous administration of Governor Ben Ayade for university use.

    What makes this revelation even more damning is the deliberate circumvention of the law. Under the Public Procurement Act, asset disposal of this magnitude requires public advertisement, competitive bidding, and strict oversight. Yet, in this case, there was no advertisement, no open bidding, and no transparency. The sale appears to have been a premeditated ploy—an inside job designed to enrich a select few at the expense of the institution.

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    This isn’t just mismanagement—it is daylight robbery of a public institution.

    Governor Bassey Edet Otu is not taking this lightly. His Special Adviser on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr. Gilbert Agbor, has issued a seven-day ultimatum demanding: A full inventory of all assets sold; Official approval documents and Governing Council resolutions (if any existed at all); Evidence of public advertisement announcing the auction (or proof that none was ever made); The identities of buyers and their connections to the former council members; and Detailed financial records—who received the proceeds, where the money went, and how it was used.

    Failure to provide these documents will not be treated as mere administrative negligence—it will be regarded as proof of corruption, with consequences to follow.

    This scandal has ignited outrage among students, staff, and citizens alike. The sheer audacity of the alleged looters—selling public property to themselves in plain sight while hiding behind bureaucracy—has fueled calls for probe and prosecution.

    A senior university staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as “one of the most shameful betrayals of trust in UNICROSS history.”

    “This was not just mismanagement—it was outright theft. These people believed they could get away with looting a public institution without consequences. But the truth is out, and they must be held accountable,” the staff member said.

    With the government tightening its grip, the former Governing Council members now stand at a crossroads—either justify their actions with undeniable proof or face the wrath of the law.

  • NDDC to donate refuse bins to UNICAL, UNICROSS

    NDDC to donate refuse bins to UNICAL, UNICROSS

     

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is due to donate 70 refuse bins to the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the University of Cross River (UNICROSS) in an ongoing effort to complement the state’s drive towards effective waste management.

    The refuse bins arrived the state on Sunday March 9, 2025.
    The interventionist agency had pledged 300 refuse bins to Cross River as part of a broader commitment to foster environmental sustainability and public health initiatives in the Niger Delta region through effective waste disposal.

    In February 2024 the first batch consisting of 13 waste bins were delivered to the state. In June a second batch of 10 waste bins were delivered, 30 dumpsters came in December of the same year, and 15 were brought in January 2025, and this latest arrival of 70, bringing the total waste bins delivered so far to 138.

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    The Commissioner representing the state in NDDC, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, affirmed that the Commission “will donate 300 bins in total to cover the whole of Cross River State.”

  • BIOPAMA concludes IMET training workshop for academics, students in Nigerian universities

    BIOPAMA concludes IMET training workshop for academics, students in Nigerian universities

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    The Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Programme in partnership with the African Network of Coaches for the Effective Management of Protected Areas (RACEGAP), has concluded a 5-day training workshop on the introduction and use of the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) in selected universities in Nigeria, West Africa.

    BIOPAMA Programme is a 60 million euro initiative of the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States to improve the long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources through better use and monitoring of information and capacity development on management and governance.

    The programme is implemented through the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (EC-JRC). It focuses on the 79 ACP countries, which cover a huge diversity of ecological, social and cultural systems.

    IMET was developed by the Joint Research Center of the European Union in the context of the BIOPAMA programme to contribute towards improving protected area management effectiveness and meeting conservation targets. The tool concerns the planning, monitoring and evaluation of protected areas and it directly support managers on the field and at national agencies level.

    READ ALSO: BIOPAMA commences training workshop on introduction of IMET, IUCN Green List in UNICAL, UNICROSS

    The training in Nigeria which took place from the 16th to 20th September, 2024 at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), drew 25 academics and students from both the host institution and the University of Cross River (UNICROSS), who were rigorously tutored on IMET and IUCN Green List by conservation experts from RACEGAP.

    According to the facilitator of the workshop, Sonigitu Ekpe, the objective of the training was to introduce IMET into the universities curriculum and enhance the knowledge of academics on the tool which is novel in Nigeria.

    “We have four professors from the University of Calabar and the University of Cross River in this training. We have 21 undergraduate and graduate students taking part in this training. They will learn the offline tools. IMET is a tool use to assess the management effectiveness of protected areas. Protected areas are like National Parks, conserved areas and reserved areas. We have various categories,” he said.

    Similarly, Ali Coulibaly, IUCN project officer from Dakar, Senegal, explained that the workshop was organized in order to have a set of experts on IMET, adding that it was part of the sustainability plan of the BIOPAMA Programme.

    “It is for us to start training students to enable them to work as protected areas managers; this is why we introduce this tool to them and advocate also for it to be included in the curriculum of universities,” Coulibaly said.

    Sharing their experiences, some of the participants said the workshop was an eye opener that exposed them to latest tools in assessing and evaluating biodiversity conservation.

    Dr Nelson Inyang from the department of geography and environmental science, University of Calabar, said “I have used several tools, but the IMET is one of a kind. It is fully loaded – from the management to the intervention, to the planning and up to the output. The tool is so systematic that you cannot skip an item. It will definitely reflect.

    “I will like to thank BIOPAMA and the IUCN for developing this tool to enable us tackle the challenges in our protected areas and to also have a perfect result.”

    Another participant, Bridget Kekong, a post graduate student in the department of fisheries and aquatic science, UNICROSS, remarked that the training was exciting, informative and educative.

    “Personally I have not had this kind of experience before. I can say that I have learned a lot. I can now use the IMET. I can go to the National Park, take data and know what to do with the data, using the tool. I will like to appeal that this kind of training should be held frequently so that others can learn too,” she said.

    The workshop featured a field trip to the Cross River National Park, Akamkpa, where the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool was used to assess and evaluate some protected areas in the Park; certificates were also presented to participants at the end of the training.

  • BIOPAMA commences training workshop on introduction of IMET, IUCN Green List in UNICAL, UNICROSS

    BIOPAMA commences training workshop on introduction of IMET, IUCN Green List in UNICAL, UNICROSS

     

    By Kelvin Obambon

    The Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Programme has begun a weeklong training workshop on the introduction of the Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List to the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the University of Cross River (UNICROSS), respectively.

    The workshop which commenced on Monday 16 September, 2024 at the E-learning Center of the Department of Modern Languages and Translation Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Calabar, is part of a broader effort to introduce IMET and IUCN Green List into the curriculum of universities across the African continent, and the retaining of coaches in protected areas management effectiveness.

    Declaring the workshop open, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Peter Okafor, said that it was exciting to host the BIOPAMA workshop because the university management is keen to train and retrain staff and students of the institution.

    “Knowledge is very important. What you know will take you to the future. What you don’t know keeps you in the past. The developed world are 20 or 30 years ahead of us because of the knowledge they have acquired. If we can acquire those knowledge, it will take us also to the future. We are where we are today because of the amount of knowledge at our disposal. We are suffering because we lack basic information that will help us.

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    “We are glad that this workshop will provide opportunity for our staff, our students – both undergraduates and postgraduates to also acquire knowledge,” he said.

    While charging participants from the university community to make good use of the rare opportunity to learn as much as they can, the Acting Vice Chancellor noted that with people from other countries taking part in the workshop, UNICAL would have some kind of visibility.

    “I happen to be the Deputy Vice Chancellor Research, Linkages and Collaboration. My job is to expose the University to the outside world, and do everything possible to link us internationally, locally, and then also to cooperate with as many bodies as possible that would help us to achieve our principal goal of research, teaching and community service,” Prof. Okafor said, as he welcomed the participants.

    Speaking during a brief interview session, a Nigerian-based senior coach and facilitator of the workshop, Sonigitu Ekpe, said “the objective of the training is to be able to introduce IMET into the universities curriculum. We have four professors from the University of Calabar and the University of Cross River State in this training.

    “We have 21 undergraduate and graduate students taking part in this training. They will learn the offline tools. IMET is a tool use to assess the management effectiveness of protected areas. Protected areas are like National Parks, conserved areas and reserved areas. We have various categories.

    “IMET was developed by the joint research council of the European Union and we have used this tool to do a lot of assessments and the analyses have proved the effectiveness of management interventions and where interventions are needed. It helps to source and advice policymakers on facilitating resources and to protect our National Parks and conserved areas.”

    Similarly, Edem Mawu, a coach from Ghana, explained that IMET assesses various protected areas by highlighting the challenges, prospects and successes that would be shared among the international community. He declared that everyone has a stake in the protection of the environment.

    On his part, Abednego Gbarway from Liberia, noted that this would be the very first time IMET would be taught in the university. He said the initiative would raise the next generation of conservationists who would protect biodiversity.

    Gbarway emphasized that protected areas apart from providing job opportunities for people in rural communities through tracing, have also helped to safeguard endangered species.

    Paradise News understands that IMET is a Protected Area Management Effectiveness (PAME) tool that allows an in-depth assessment of marine and terrestrial protected areas, regardless of their management categories and governance type. As a decision-support tool, it helps protected area managers take analysis-based management decisions for improved conservation outcomes.