The University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the Cross River State Government have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at expanding nursing education and improving healthcare delivery in Cross River State.
This renewed partnership was highlighted when the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Effanga Offiong, recently received members of the Cross River State Government BNSC Affiliation Committee, led by the Commissioner for Health, Henry Egbe Ayuk, during a courtesy visit to his office at the Council Chamber of the institution.
Welcoming the delegation, Professor Offiong described the team as key stakeholders in the development of the state and expressed appreciation for the visit, noting that the university remains deeply committed to the progress of Cross River.
“It is a pleasure to receive this team,” the Vice Chancellor said. “I have served this state as a commissioner, and my Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Linkages and Collaboration has also served the state. This is our state, and it is our collective responsibility to contribute to its development.”
Professor Offiong commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu for what he described as visionary leadership, particularly in the expansion of nursing education through the establishment of additional nursing institutions across the state.
According to him, the development has generated renewed interest among young people in the medical and health professions and holds promise for strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.
Speaking on the proposed affiliation of state-owned nursing institutions with the University of Calabar, the Vice Chancellor assured the committee that the university would work diligently to ensure that the process meets both national and global standards.
“We will re-engage on the affiliation process, review the curriculum and hold further meetings to ensure that nothing falls short of the required standards,” he stated.
He emphasized that strengthening academic staffing in nursing would be critical to achieving the objectives of the affiliation programme and ensuring quality training for students.
Professor Offiong also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration with the state government, particularly in providing logistical support to facilitate clinical training and student mobility.
“The state’s support, especially in areas such as transportation for students during clinical postings, will go a long way,” he noted. “On our part, the university will do everything within its capacity to fast-track the affiliation process.”
Earlier, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, congratulated the Vice Chancellor on his appointment and thanked God for his emergence as the university’s helmsman.
Ayuk commended the University of Calabar for its longstanding contribution to the development of the health sector in the state and reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening nursing education through affiliation with the institution.
He explained that the initiative forms part of the state government’s broader strategy to expand opportunities for nursing training and improve the quality of healthcare services across Cross River.
The visit ended with mutual assurances of cooperation, as both parties expressed optimism that the collaboration would enhance professional training, institutional development and healthcare delivery in the state.
Kingsley Agim
