Four candidates have emerged as front runners in the race for the position of the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo (UniUyo), which becomes vacant on December 1.
Among the top contenders are Prof Christopher Ekong, a Professor of Economics and dean, Faculty of Social Sciences; Patrick Akpan, the Provost of the University’s Business School; Antonia Essien, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics and Aniekan Offiong, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration).
According to sources close to the University, the governing council is scheduled to meet “soonest” to ratify the appointment of one of them as the Vice Chancellor.
It was further gathered that the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor, who will take over from Nyaudo Ndaeyo , a professor of Animal Science whose tenure comes to an end next month has split the academic community into camps with many of the senior academics throwing their weight behind one of the candidates for the University’s top job.
According to sources, while the management of the University led by the Vice Chancellor is said to be in favour of two of the candidates, others were backing one of them who is said to have gathered cognizant experience both within and outside the University.
“The new Vice Chancellor, is likely to emerge by November 20th. One of the candidates, Christopher Ekong is favored to be the new Vice Chancellor because of the massive support he enjoys,” the source said.
It was further gathered that the out going Vice Chancellor was rooting for one of the Deputy Vice Chancellors as the race hots up with less than three weeks to go.
The current Vice Chancellor, Nyaudo Ndaeyo, who was appointed in December 2020 is credited to have secured the approval for the commencement of new academic programmes including Nursing Sciences and others.
The University of Uyo, one of the federal universities in Akwa Ibom State runs courses in Medicine, Engineering , Law and Nursing and Pharmacy among others