Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey.
By Anietie Akpan
The Parish Priest of St. Mary Pro-Cathedral and former National Director of Caritas Nigeria, Fr. Evaristus Bassey, has challenged the University of Calabar to become a world class university.
Speaking during an inter-denominational service recently, to mark the golden jubilee of the university and the 37th convocation, under the theme “Spes Nostra non Confundit – Our Hope Does Not Disappoint”, the Catholic priest commended the university administration for the infrastructural developments and the improvements in student results and prompt issuance of certificates and transcripts amidst many other developments.
But he urged staff to “eschew corruption and concentrate on the formation of mind and character of students as this was a core obligation”.
The clergy lamented the fact that because universities placed a high premium on published papers, “many academic staff were abandoning students to themselves and not giving the necessary guidance, because everyone wanted to be a professor”.
He urged all to embrace the advice of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria to overcome cynicism and work towards Nigeria becoming a great nation despite the disappointments of the past.
For the University of Calabar to become world class, he suggested that “the method of students evaluating staff at the end of every course as is done in some universities abroad should be emulated, so that there are consequences for lack of staff performance”.
He urged everyone to do their utmost in matters that were under their sphere of control so as to ensure world-class outcomes.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi, thanked all who were able to make it to the event that was moderated by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Duke, and expressed the hope that with God on their side the university would continue to move ahead in great strides.
