The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Francisca Bassey, has announced plans to make membership of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshals Unit mandatory for key university appointees as part of efforts to strengthen staff participation in road safety and traffic management across the institution’s campuses.
Prof. Bassey made the announcement on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the formal decoration of newly inducted members of the unit in her office. She commended their willingness to volunteer their services in support of road safety and a more orderly university environment.
The Vice Chancellor described the Special Marshals as valuable partners in promoting road safety and praised the inductees for embracing the responsibility. She expressed confidence that their involvement would improve traffic management and strengthen the university community’s commitment to safety.
“Your contributions and status as Special Marshals carry international recognition. You can serve effectively anywhere in the world because this role is respected not just locally, but at both state and international levels. Going forward, I am going to make membership of this unit mandatory for all appointees, especially Directors and key officials, so that we can build a strong unit and operate as a united family,” she said.
She urged the newly decorated marshals to remain committed to their duties, encouraging them to devote between 10 and 30 minutes daily to voluntary service to facilitate smooth traffic flow and promote safety within the university community.
Prof. Bassey added that greater participation by directors and other key officials would strengthen the unit, foster institutional ownership and promote collective responsibility for safety and orderliness across the university’s campuses.
Earlier, Engr. Dr. Steve Takim, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said the process of establishing the unit began about two months earlier, following a directive to recruit new members. He attributed the progress made to the Vice Chancellor’s vision and support, describing the decoration ceremony as an opportunity to present the results of the recruitment and training exercise to the university management.
“This achievement reflects the visionary leadership of our Vice Chancellor. It was only right that we present the tangible results of that vision. The Management can be proud to present these UNICROSS staff members, who are now official members of the Federal Road Safety Special Marshals,” Takim said.
He disclosed that more than 120 staff members across the university’s Calabar, Ogoja and Okuku campuses initially expressed interest in joining the unit. Of these, 61 applications were collated and screened, after which the applicants underwent more than six weeks of rigorous training. Those who met the required criteria successfully completed the process, while administrative, financial and qualification-related challenges prompted some applicants to withdraw.
Also speaking, the Head of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Prof. Emmanuel Ogban, thanked the Vice Chancellor for supporting the development of the unit and expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of the exercise. He described the occasion as a memorable milestone and expressed delight at being among the newly decorated Special Marshals.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Stella Maris-Okey; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Thomas Ojikpong; the Registrar, Dr. Catherine Ndifon Osai; the University Librarian, Dr. Victoria Iyishu; and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Onen Ebri Onen.
The induction brings together academic and non-academic staff from the university’s three campuses, providing an institution-wide platform for voluntary service in road safety and traffic management. The planned expansion of membership to key university appointees is expected to strengthen participation and promote a shared culture of safety, discipline and responsibility across UNICROSS.
By Kingsley Agim
