Florence Obi
Florence Banku Obi is a Nigerian academic, author and a professor of education with specialization in psychology and special needs education. She is the 11th substantive vice-chancellor of University of Calabar and the first female vice-chancellor since the inception of the institution.After her appointment as the new VC, Ovie Omo-Agege who chairs the Senate Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review, described Prof. Obi as “an astute educational icon.” She was previously the deputy vice-chancellor, academics and commissioner for women affairs in Cross River State.She was a candidate in the 2015 VC election but was not elected until 2020 when she became the first woman to be elected.In 2007, she served as the social development and member of the executive council, Cross River State.
Quotes
[edit]- [1] Speaking at UniCal Chapel of Redemption, Calabar on “Women Arise and Take Responsibility Unto The Nations”.
- We create the bias from the cradle when we begin to tell our children the chores that are meant for boys and those that are for girls.
- [2] Speaking on revitalizing the university system
- I can assure you that the government is doing something towards revitalising public universities.
- [3] Speaking on revitalizing the university system
- We need to begin to talk to our children about equity from home; if we do that, our children will grow up with it and affect the society positively.
- The VC is also responsible for administrative action and is the chief financial officer of the university. When things go wrong financially, the VC is held responsible. Those are the tripartite responsibilities of a vice-chancellor.
- [4] Speaking on her duties as VC
- I am not sure if I have taken any complex decision yet. Perhaps, the slight increase we recently introduced to school fees could count as one. It was not easy considering the economic situation in the country. Everyone is hard up, yet the university needs to keep moving along with other contemporary universities.
- [5] Speaking on the complex decision she has had to undertake as VC
- As the first female vice-chancellor of the university, it comes with a lot of responsibility and expectations. Many people want to see what a female vice-chancellor can do. There are also high expectations from people who think the university is too complex for a woman to run.
- [6] Speaking on the challenge of being the first female Unical VC
- I think one of the greatest achievements I would like to be associated with is the peace, unity, oneness and purpose on campus. I derive joy from the fact that people are working in a cordial environment and anybody can have access to the vice-chancellor.
- [7] Speaking on the greatest achievements she would like to be associated with
- The long-term plan I have for the university is for the university to be globally competitive and highly ranked. My short-term plan is to put in place policies and that would make us become a globally competitive university.
- [8] Speaking on her plans for the university
