Professor Offiong E. Offiong
By Anietie Akpan
Professor Offiong E Offiong of the Department of Chemistry, University of Calabar has disassociated himself from recent publications in the social media that he emerged tops in the Vice Chancellorship selection interview, saying it is “entirely false, misleading and mischievous”.
In a statement published in his Facebook page, Professor Offiong stated categorically that he “has no knowledge of, nor any connection to, the said publication. The report is entirely false, misleading, mischievous, and should be disregarded by the general public and members of the University community.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Governing Council of the University of Calabar is yet to commence the official screening or selection process, and Professor Offiong has not appeared before any screening committee or participated in any interview for the Vice-Chancellorship position. It is therefore premature, unethical, and misleading for anyone to circulate unverified claims or results suggesting otherwise”.
Professor Offiong reaffirmed his deep respect for the established procedures guiding the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor as outlined by the University and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The statement said, “he remains neither desperate nor involved in any act capable of undermining the integrity of the process. Rather, he is confident in his qualifications, experience, and service record; trusting that, when the time comes, the Governing Council will conduct a fair, transparent, and merit-based selection exercise in the best interest of the University of Calabar.
“Members of the public, staff, and students of the University are hereby advised to disregard any publication or social media post not issued through the University’s official communication channels.
“Professor Offiong remains committed to academic excellence, institutional integrity, and peaceful conduct throughout the ongoing process”.
