Boki Youths Intellectuals Calls for Gender Parity in the University of Calabar Ahead of September 10th VCship Screening

 By Zebis Prince |Calabar

September 10th 2020 is the D-day for the pronouncement of University of Calabar 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor. The chosen one to emerge from this exclusive exercise will be streaming in news headlines and on the pages of papers this Thursday as events to conclude the much anticipated appointment ramp in good shape. On the back of this, the Boki Youths Intellectuals have called for the end of discrimination against women vying for the University’s number one office and has voted their total support for Prof Florence B. Obi noting that, the Amazon has paid the ultimate price to earn the trust of leading the University as the Vice-Chancellor. 

A source says thirteen Professors are in poll position for the apex job. Out of this number, only two contenders are Women as against eleven Men. It is on record that, the ten Vice-Chancellors including the incumbent produced so far in the University of Calabar at its 45th year of establishment are all men and going by the above head count of the current aspirants, the Male Professors by far outnumbered the Females .

It is highly characteristic that the criteria for deciding the emergence of a Vice-Chancellor are tested by basic procedures and standards weaved on  competence, experience and achievement. If that is the case, then it craves wild perplexity to imagine why in a whooping forty five years, the system is yet to deem a woman fit to head University of Calabar in the capacity of the Vice Chancellor. How can we justify the antithesis that Female Professors are not as capable to make good Vice-Chancellors like their male counterparts in the University of Calabar. Again, why is the Council administering governance in this aged University yet to consider a woman to be worthy of its highest office? And why has the Cross River Women taken backstage until now in a profession which has survived most effectively by their meritorious services? 

A research by the Nigerian University System Statistical Digest 2018, published in April 2019, shows the country has 170 Universities with less than five percent women Vice-Chancellors. In a separate research published in 2019 by Africa Check Media, it was established that only about 22 Female Professors past and present has held the position of Vice-Chancellor since the advent of University education in Nigeria. What a ridiculous precedence this is against the female gender.

 Hajiya Bilkisu Oniyangi in a 2018 Guardian News Paper Publication regrettably posited that “Ever since the advent of university education in Nigeria, the system cannot boast of producing up to 15 substantive female vice chancellors, either from the public, faith-based or private institutions”. She further noted that “Teaching and learning industry is generally perceived as female-dominated field, but this trend changes within the career trajectories of women as their representation begins to decline in a higher academic environment, and more so at senior management level”. With times evolving, Female Academicians have braced up with the challenge of reaching the summit of academic actualization and even so, they have displayed rare courage in coming out to seek for the highest positions of leadership in Nigerian Universities. Currently, Professor Florence B. Obi is one of the two Female contenders for the job of the University of Calabar Vice-Chancellorship. Judging from her magnificent academic profile, her experience and achievements, the esteemed five members panel chosen to conduct this exercise are having before them the redoubtable Prof Florence Obi, a beacon of excellence and an icon of competence waiting to open a new page of history for a pulsating administrative experience in the University. 

 PROF FLORENCE OBI IN PECKING ORDER WITH PROFESSORS, GRACE ALELE WILLIAMS, EKANEM IKPI BRAIDE 

Nigeria's first Female Vice Chancellor, Prof Grace Alele Williams set her historical legacy about 35 years ago as she became the First Female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin in 1985. She has been reputed for creating the possibility path in University leadership for Nigerian Women. She is a celebrated Amazon of academics in Nigeria not because she was not faced with stifled fights in between her quests but at least, the society gave her a chance. 

Our own Prof Ekanem Ikpi Braide had her first Vice-Chancellorship experience between 2002 and 2007 when she was appointed as the 2nd VC of Cross River University of Technology. In her rein, the University was formed and shaped by excellence, producing some of the best brains Crutech ever had. She molded the institution to National standard. Until this day, none of her successors has been able to match or replicate her feat in the University. In recognition of  her scintillating competences, she got a second offer from the Federal Government to become the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Lafia. She is excelling because the society gave her a chance. 

Right here and now is the turn of Prof Florence B. Obi to be given the chance to bring her wealth of experience and touch of excellence like a balm to the wobbling ankles of the University of Calabar.  A lofty career build with discipline and hard work. An academic lifetime passionately dedicated for the creation and delivery of excellence in and outside the classroom. A world of academic values added to the world of research. Care and guardians provided for thousands, and serving the State and Country in different capacities. All we are asking for is a chance for Prof Florence Obi to perform at the highest level of her aspiration. A chance for her to grace a medium and platform where her wealth of capacity can be given vent to add incredible impact to the University of Calabar.

 A CALL ON WOMEN, OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT PROF FLORENCE OBI 

It appears the Nigerian tertiary institution’s environment is working on a prognosis that favors the men more than the women in top leadership positions. It is accounted that only a paltry 17% women has occupied top positions in Nigerian Universities and other Institutions. 

Apart from Grace Alele Williams, the first female vice chancellor in Nigeria; Sidi Osho, Peace Babalola, Comfort Ekpo, Fatima Mukhtar, Aize Obayan, Jadesola Akande, Oluwayemisi Obilade Lilian Salami, who defied the odds in the male dominated environment, the position of VC in our tertiary institutions seems to be strictly reserved for men.

The Boki Youths Intellectuals are calling on the Wife of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who is the head of all women in the country to lend her voice for the emergence of a woman Vice-Chancellor this time around in the University of Calabar. In a similar employ, we urge the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator, Nkechi Nwogwu to stand undeterred and curate this generational history by waging her pillars of support for a woman Vice-Chancellor to emerge under her audacious rein in the University of Calabar.

It is instructive also to call on Women and Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria and Cross River State to rally round the Amazon, Prof Florence Obi as she is set to break the jinx of Disparity against women VCship aspirations in the University of Calabar come Thursday.

 Afu Cleverty Njong Esq

 For: Boki Youths Intellectuals