By Our Reporter
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, UNICAL, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has urged all religious leaders not to relent in drumming the message of change to the people in order to achieve a desired nation.
Prof. Obi stated this in her office when the Archbishop of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Calabar Archdiocese, and his team paid a courtesy visit to her recently.
The VC, while addressing the team of Religious Leaders said as a country, Nigeria is in the era and time where morality has been thrown aside, with the youths resolving to get quick success without following the ways of our fathers who cherished dignity and labour.
To this end, she opined that there is a need to use religious gatherings to educate people on the need to always do the right things in society.
Expressing her delight over the Ministry’s vision and theme of the year tagged: “Arise and Build”, the Vice Chancellor said; “When we talk about people arising and building, it involves every one of us arising to our responsibility, to enable us to build a society that we will be proud of by doing the right thing.”
Prof. Obi used the occasion to congratulate the Archbishop for his appointment as the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Methodist Church, Nigeria, Calabar, adding that, she is optimistic that he will be a blessing not only to the university but also to the state.
While acknowledging and recognising some of the requests presented, she said the university is ready to partner with the Methodist Church, adding that, her administration is open to all faith.
The Varsity Administrator appreciated the church for considering her for an award in celebration of the 110th anniversary of the Wesley Cathedral, Beecroft Street.
Earlier, the Archbishop, Rev. Chimezuo O. N. Nwankpa, who spoke on behalf of the team, congratulated the Vice-Chancellor for her meritorious emergence as the first female Vice-Chancellor in the history of the Institution, adding that, her achievements are glaring for all to see, commending her for changing the narrative.
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Rev. Nwankpa said the purpose of the visit was to sue for partnership in the area of skills acquisition, entrepreneurial development and other allied areas.
He used the occasion to call on the collective efforts of everyone towards building a better nation which is in line with the Methodist vision and theme for the year tagged; “Arise and Build”.
In his words, “Looking at the deplorable condition of our nation, human efforts have failed and every strategy applied, to no avail.
“It is against this background, that the Methodist Church Nigeria is taking the step of Nehemiah and calling on all Nigerians at home and abroad, to work in synergy to rebuild Nigeria in all ramifications to give our children a better future.”
The Clergy further informed that the Wesley Cathedral, Beecroft Street will be celebrating its 110th anniversary.
In light of the event, Rev. Nwankpa said the Church had chosen to confer a Meritorious Award on the UNICAL VC due to her contributions towards humanity, as well as, her positive impact in the University Community.
