After months of succession tussle at the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Prof. Chris Nyong Ekong has emerged the 9th substantive vice chancellor of the institution.
Ekong, a professor of Economics and an alumnus of the institution, takes over from the acting VC, Prof. Samuel Adewumi, of the Lagos State University (LASU), who was named to fill the void at the exit of Ndaeyo in December last year.
However, the Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, also an alumnus of the institution, has appealed to Ekong not to use the five years in office to open old woods, but be magnanimous in victory and focus on maintaining excellent academic standard for the university.
The piece of advice when he received in audience a delegation of the institution’s management led by the chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Muiz Banire (SAN), at the Government House, Uyo.
He advised him to draw a line from the past administration, focus on going forward, and resist the urge or temptation to probe, as such could derail him from the track of implementing his vision for the school.
Describing the new VC as a square peg in a square hole being an erudite scholar and given his cognate experience in the public service, he applauded Prof. Ekong, on his capacity to deliver on the assignment.
He said: “Let me again, on behalf of the Government and people of Akwa Ibom State, congratulate you on this well- deserved appointment.
“You are carrying into your new role cognate experience garnered through your work in the public service, having once served as a member of the State Executive Council of this great State, and now at the apex of academic excellence and administration.
“We have implicit faith in your capacity to deliver big on your new assignment. You have all it takes to make the University of Uyo, the Ivy- League of the Nigerian public university system and we are rooting for you all the way.”
He, therefore, appreciated the Visitor to the University, President Bola Tinubu, for approving the appointment and the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the immediate past Acting VC, Prof. Adewumi, for seamlessly managing the process that led to the emergence of a substantive UNIUYO CEO.
The governor, who assured that the state remains committed to investments in education, maintained that his administration would continue to pay bursary to support the students, expressing his administration’s willingness to support and partner with the institution for growth and general good of the state and beyond.
Presenting the new VC before the the Governor, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council , Dr. Banire (SAN), thanked the Governor for the warm reception, noting, that Prof. Ekong, was not only an indigenous VC, but “an experienced leader who has contributed his quota to the development of the State, the institution, and always ready to serve.”
Besides, he commended the Governor for his numerous intervention projects within the University, describing his strides as borne out of deep vision and impactful leadership radiating across all the local government areas of the state.
Responding, Prof Ekong appreciated the Governor for his continuous support to the University, and assured that he was ready to work hard to maintain the institution’s academic excellence in order to justify the confidence reposed in him.
