UNICROSS Is Rising

By Dr Inyali Peter 

Friday 4th September 2026 will remain a significant day in the history of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS). For the first time, the University hosted the First Lady of Nigeria, the Governor and First Lady of Cross River State, alongside many of the state’s leading political and public figures. Their presence was more than ceremonial; it was a strong statement about the place of UNICROSS in the state’s future.

The occasion was not a seminar, symposium or political gathering. The First Lady , Sen. Remi Tinubu, Governor Bassey Otu, his dear wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Bassey and other dignitaries were in UNICROSS to commission a state-of-the-art ICT Centre delivered under the administration of Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Bassey. A university’s transformation is best measured not by speeches, but by the quality of infrastructure, opportunities and learning environment it creates for its students and staff.

For an institution that endured a period of limited attention from government, the renewed focus on UNICROSS is encouraging. Bringing government officials to the University allows them to see its realities firsthand, the needs, the gaps and the possibilities. It creates a stronger basis for intervention because policymakers are no longer relying solely on reports; they can see the institution and understand where support is most needed.

Those of us who care deeply about UNICROSS have always known that Governor Otu considers the University important. What has become clearer is the scale of that interest. From facilitating the administration block as a Senator to approving projects covering roads, a mini-stadium and the proposed Medical College, the administration has continued to demonstrate that UNICROSS belongs on the development agenda of Cross River.

The Governor’s interventions extend beyond physical infrastructure. At a time when many states were struggling with rising wage obligations, his administration implemented the minimum wage for University staff. He also constituted a committee to examine the broader challenges confronting the institution and recommend a more comprehensive approach. These steps suggest an understanding that a university cannot thrive on buildings alone; its people and systems must also work.

Credit must also go to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bassey under whose leadership, all this good things are happening. The ICT Centre is a monumental achievement, but it also represents what can happen when institutional leadership is willing to work relentlessly within difficult circumstances. I’ve watched the Vice Chancellor go days without sleeping just so UNICROSS can work. Certain things she has done can only be done by someone with extraordinary grace. This ICT centre is one of the many deliverables the university has witnessed under her watch. Soon, the Governor will be invited for another round of commissioning across campuses.

The Governing Council, led by Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, equally deserves commendation for providing strategic support and oversight to the Vice Chancellor and her Management. 

So, thank you, First Lady Remi Tinubu, thank you Governor Otu, and thank you, First Lady Bishop Otu, for honouring UNICROSS with your presence. Thank you, Prof. Bassey, for giving the University reasons to believe again. And thank you to the 6th Governing Council and the entire Management team. With purposeful leadership, strategic support and sustained government attention, UNICROSS can rise to the institution Cross River deserves.