Established in June 2009, Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) is a higher institution pulled through with a major objective of nurturing and producing graduates who will play key roles in the transformation of the state into an industrialized economy through productive research and development drive.
The need for the realization of this vision propelled the commencement of academic activities, with the university holding its first matriculation ceremony on February 26, 2011, under the leadership of Professor Sunday. W. Peters, who was the first vice chancellor of the institution.
On April 22, 2015, Professor Eno James Ibanga was appointed second vice chancellor of the university by (former) Governor Godswill Obot Akpabio. His appointment was greeted with pomp and champagne by the entire university community, who believed his love and passion for development of the institution while serving as deputy vice chancellor academics will drive the institution to an enviable height.
He swung into action immediately by identifying key areas of urgent intervention and developed a sustainable road map to help accelerate the development of the institution in the areas of infrastructure, manpower, research, community engagement, among others.
His early days in office could be adjudged to have been more tasking than the latter because majority of programmes in the university were not accredited, as there was also urgent need to outline modalities that ensured programmes offered by the institution met minimum standards required by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Ibanga, with the help of a vastly experienced management team, erudite deans of faculties, optimally motivated heads of departments, and quintessential staff members, pulled through numerous accreditation exercises with ease, securing accreditation for all 38 programmes offered by the university as of the start of the 2019/2020 academic session.
Asides accreditation of the programmes, there was a critical need for the development of a more conducive environment for learning. This, he achieved by convincing the state government on the positives to be derived from addressing the topographical challenges of Obio Akpa campus of the university by developing a sustainable road network in the campus.
This perhaps may have motivated the state government to massively mobilize for the construction of internal roads within the campus, which extended through to some parts of Obio Akpa community. The development has engendered peace and also driven criminal elements away from the community. These characters previously took advantage of the deplorable state of roads to wreak havoc on students and the villagers.
The transformation of Akwa Ibom State University during Professor Ibanga’s tenure did not centre on Obio Akpa campus alone, as giant strides were also recorded in the main campus of the university (Ikot Akpaden), which houses the Faculties of Engineering, Education, and Natural and Applied Sciences. An example of such being the administrative building and the Senate Chambers, which according to the VC, was built with the aid of internally generated revenue (IGR).
Similarly, the Faculty of Engineering boasts of a multimillion naira 100KN INSTRON Universal Testing Machine (UTM) acquired in 2018 for testing of engineering properties of materials. As of the time of this review, the equipment is the only one available in the South-South and East geo-political zones. A good number of researchers from institutions in the region and beyond have visited AKSU for collaborative research and use of the UTM for various materials testing experiments. This feat has earned the university accolades and also expanded its research reach.
The Faculty of Engineering, which was a core factor when the institution was established as Akwa Ibom State University of Science and Technology (AKUTECH), before eventual conversion to a conventional university, was not left out in the mix. The huge investment by the state in training manpower from the era of former Governor Victor Attah has hugely paid off, as some of the best hands in the faculty are products of such lofty gesture.
The permanent site of the university also received adequate attention within the period reviewed, as the Faculty of Biological Sciences and an ultra-modern post-graduate hostel are some of the initial projects traced to the permanent site. The willingness to open up the permanent site received a massive boost in late 2019, with the commencement of construction of a befitting entrance to the university and a near 3km road network that will link the permanent site of the institution to the main campus. The project is at an advanced stage as of the time of this review.
In addition to the numerous strides, the commencement of Post-Graduate programmes in several departments of the institution in the 2019/2020 academic session was the icing on the cake for Professor Ibanga, who on assumption of office in 2015, promised to facilitate the start of the school. The post-graduate school will advance research and innovations, and in no time position the school to be more visible in the global space.
Gunning for the best was the driving factor for Professor Ibanga, who believes the best can be achieved even with minimal resources. This was undoubtedly the reason he repeatedly said ‘he will leave AKSU better than he met it’. He also recorded giant strides in the areas of ICT development; establishment of farms; licensing of AKSU Radio/TV; international collaborations and linkages; expansion of lecture and laboratory resources; and others too numerous to mention.
On completion of his tenure of five years, Professor Ibanga was once again appointed by the governor on acting capacity to steer the course of the university until the COVID-19 pandemic is managed to a reasonable extent in the state, a position he held till his recent political engagement.
It is widely believed that the achievements of Ibanga caught the attention of the state governor, who found him worthy to be nominated for possible appointment into the State Executive Council. Having scaled through the process of screening at the House of Assembly, he looks poised to be sworn in as a commissioner, a situation that will bring an end to his tenure as acting VC of the Akwa Ibom State University.
His steady rise is no doubt a function of hard work, commitment and due diligence that have made him the proverbial fish that has no hiding place.
Promise Etim, a public affairs analyst, writes from Uyo
