UNICAL dismisses HOD for ‘failure to present students for convocation’

Florence Obi, the vice-chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), has dismissed Victor Ecoma, the head of the Fine and Applied Arts department, for allegedly neglecting to present students for the school’s convocation event.

The UNICAL 36th convocation ceremony was place from March 18 to March 24, with around 8,415 graduates receiving various academic degrees.

At the occasion, 32 students were awarded first-class honours, while 745 graduates received their master’s degree certificates. 438 graduates received their doctoral degrees.

During the one-week celebration, five projects at the institution, including three pavilions and two hostels, were commissioned.

However, NAN reported on Monday that Gabriel Egbe, the varsity’s registrar, said Ecoma was suspended because he allegedly failed to present students of his department for the 36th convocation ceremony.

The school management described the HOD’s action as “an act of negligence of duty and a display of incompetence”.

The varsity board also appointed Echeta Chimezie, another professor in the department, to take over from Ecoma.

“Prof. Ecoma’s action is an act of negligence of duty and a display of incompetence,” the statement reads in part.

“He is directed to hand over all properties of the institution in his possession to Prof. Echeta Chimezie, who has been appointed to take over from him.”