The University of Calabar, UNICAL, has taken a decisive step to protect its academic integrity by suspending a senior admission officer linked to a massive over-admission scandal. This disciplinary action comes as the institution intensifies its war against fake certificate racketeering and the manipulation of the school’s internal systems. Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Offiong Offiong, made this disclosure on Thursday during a media briefing ahead of the institution’s 38th convocation ceremony.
According to the university management, the affected officer is currently facing a panel for gross negligence that allowed for a significant breach of the approved admission quotas. To prevent a reoccurrence, the university has completely reconstituted the Central Admissions Committee as part of a broader reform to sanitize the system. Professor Offiong emphasized that the 12th administration of the university will no longer tolerate any form of academic dishonesty or systemic compromise.
Cracking down on sophisticated certificate racketeers
Professor Offiong expressed deep concern over the activities of criminal syndicates that specialize in producing forged certificates using the university’s name. These fraudsters have reportedly gone as far as forging the signatures of former registrars and past vice-chancellors to give their fake documents a semblance of legitimacy. The university management revealed that it is currently closing in on the members of these syndicates through a coordinated intelligence-gathering effort.
The Vice Chancellor warned that anyone found culpable, whether they are staff members or external collaborators, will face the full weight of the law. “We are aware of these illegal practices, and we are working to apprehend those responsible,” the Professor stated firmly. The institution is also moving toward the total digitization of its academic records to make it impossible for forged documents to pass through verification processes in the future.
Zero tolerance for over-admission in high demand courses
A major part of the ongoing reforms at UNICAL is the strict enforcement of carrying capacity for professional courses such as Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing. Professor Offiong cautioned parents and influential individuals against mounting pressure on the institution to admit candidates beyond its approved limits. He noted that over-admission compromises the quality of training and leads to the eventual stagnation of students who cannot be indexed by professional bodies.
The Vice Chancellor maintained that the university will not compromise its hard-earned standards just to satisfy the high demand for certain programs. “Where there is no space in medicine and surgery, pharmacy or nursing, please do not insist,” he urged the general public. This stance is part of a larger strategy to reposition the University of Calabar as a center of excellence that prioritizes merit over political or social influence.
Preparations for the 38th convocation ceremony
In the midst of these disciplinary actions, the university is preparing to graduate a total of 10,820 students during its upcoming convocation. The graduating class consists of 152 diploma students, 9,173 first-degree holders, and 1,495 postgraduate students who have successfully completed their various programs. Professor Offiong noted that the high number of graduates reflects the university’s commitment to producing skilled manpower for the Nigerian economy.
A breakdown of the first-degree results shows a commendable level of academic performance, with 52 students earning First Class honors. Another 2,390 students fell into the Second Class Upper division, while the majority, totaling 5,819, secured Second Class Lower degrees. The Vice Chancellor urged the public to report any person soliciting or offering bribes for admission, stressing that such acts undermine the very foundation of the university.
