…Honours Four Distinguished Nigerians

– Nsikak Esenowo

The University of Uyo (UNIUYO) is set to graduate 22,961 students at its 31st and 32nd Combined Convocation Ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 2026.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Christopher Nyong Ekong, disclosed this on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a media briefing ahead of the ceremony covering the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 academic sessions.

He said the graduands comprise 19,217 Bachelor’s degree holders, 814 diploma recipients, 248 certificate graduates and 2,682 postgraduate students. The Bachelor’s degree category includes 214 First Class graduates, 7,216 Second Class Upper, 10,468 Second Class Lower, 917 Third Class and 402 Pass graduates.

Professor Ekong also announced that four distinguished Nigerians will receive honorary degrees in recognition of their contributions to national development. They are Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas; Chairman of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo; Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; and Chairman of Ubotex Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ubong Obot.

Reflecting on his first 100 days in office, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration was focused on restoring academic excellence, improving infrastructure, strengthening research and repositioning the University for greater relevance.

He highlighted the processing of 1,810 academic transcripts, introduction of a 72-hour turnaround policy for transcript requests, approval of second-semester results for the 2025/2026 session and the return of undergraduate and Direct Entry admissions to faculties and departments to promote transparency.

He also disclosed that the University had strengthened campus security and resolved a 39-year-old dispute with its host communities through constructive engagement.

On infrastructure, Professor Ekong listed the renovation of student hostels, rehabilitation of the Medical Campus Auditorium, renovation of the Central Administration Building and repair of the Main Campus entrance road among completed and ongoing projects. He added that 500 computers were expected to arrive soon to boost digital learning, while the UNIPOD Centre and other academic facilities were being expanded.

The Vice-Chancellor further announced the establishment of commercial ventures, including paint and block production companies and UNIUYO Farms Limited, to boost internally generated revenue. He said the University’s agricultural projects, including cassava, cocoa, plantain and oil palm plantations, as well as poultry and fish farms, had provided employment for over 200 residents.

On staff welfare, he said outstanding entitlements had been cleared, salaries maintained regularly, allowances paid from January to October 2026 and promotion arrears payment commenced in batches. He assured students of continued attention to their welfare, hostel facilities and campus security.

Professor Ekong reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to good governance, accountability, digital transformation and improved staff and student welfare.

He appreciated the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, represented by the State Secretary, Comrade Nsikak Esenowo, for the Council’s collaboration with the University, noting that the partnership would enhance publicity for its programmes and opportunities

…says report by Leadership Newspaper misleading

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has denied the allegation of extortion by officers of the Command at various checkpoints within the state capital.

The Command considers the report malicious in its framing and intended to portray the Police in a bad light. It presents unverified allegations and an estimate from an unnamed retired officer as though they establish the facts about police conduct and deployment throughout Akwa Ibom State.

In a Press Statement signed and made available to journalists in Uyo, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, described the report as misleading and urges journalists to always verify their report before publication.
“For security and operational reasons, the Command does not consider it appropriate to disclose its detailed personnel strength or deployment information publicly. However, the estimate attributed to an anonymous retired officer is not even close to the Command’s actual strength and should not be presented as an authoritative figure.

“The presence of officers at checkpoints on major routes does not prove that communities elsewhere have been abandoned. Deployment is guided by prevailing security needs and operational assessments. The Command rejects the sweeping suggestion that it has neglected residents outside Uyo”

The Command urges journalists to verify facts concerning its operations with the appropriate authorities before publication. Speculation and reliance on views from retired officers who may no longer be abreast of current developments within the system can result in inaccurate reporting and mislead the public. The Command remains available to provide clarification on matters within its purview.

The Command takes specific complaints of extortion, intimidation or abuse of authority seriously. It maintains a Complaint Response Unit at the office of the Police Public Relations Department to receive, process and address complaints fairly. Members of the public who experience extortion are urged to report it to the Unit on 08102958982. They may also approach any senior police officer with a complaint at any time, as the contact numbers of senior officers in the Command are already in the public domain.

Complaints will be examined, and any officer found culpable will face appropriate disciplinary and legal action. Allegations against individuals must be established through evidence and due process; they should not be presented as proof of routine misconduct by the entire Command.

The reported injury to the child is a serious matter. The Command previously announced that the officer allegedly involved was arrested and detained for investigation. The findings and outcome of the investigation will be made available to the public soon.

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command remains committed to protecting lives and property across Akwa Ibom State and holding its personnel accountable.

1. The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has once again called on officers under its command to exhibit high level of professionalism, operational efficiency and total compliance with the IGP’s directive while carrying out their lawful duties.

The state’s Police boss CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, Mnipr, made the call during an emergency strategic security meeting with Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Tactical Commanders, Heads of Departments (HODs), and other senior officers of the Command to deliberate on prevailing security concerns and strengthen strategies for effective crime prevention and control across the State.

The meeting provided a strategic platform to review the prevailing security situation, assess emerging threats, and address critical issues relating to intelligence gathering, crime prevention and detection, visibility policing, rapid response to distress calls, inter-unit collaboration, and effective supervision of personnel.

The Commissioner of Police charged all officers in command and supervisory positions to remain vigilant, demonstrate effective leadership, and ensure prompt and coordinated responses to security challenges within their respective areas of responsibility.

The Commissioner emphasised the need for all officers and men to discharge their duties with diligence, discipline, integrity, and respect for the rule of law. He reiterated that police personnel must respect the fundamental rights of citizens and ensure that arrests, investigations, searches, and other official duties are carried out in accordance with established laws and procedures. He warned against abuse of authority, extortion, negligence, dereliction of duty, and any conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.

In a Press statement signed and issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the meeting further addressed the need to strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve information sharing, enhance patrol strategies, and sustain effective monitoring of identified security flashpoints and vulnerable locations. DPOs, Tactical Commanders, and Heads of Departments were directed to maintain effective communication with their personnel, ensure prompt reporting of security developments, and provide adequate supervision to enhance operational efficiency and accountability.

In line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Psc(+), Officers and men were also sensitised on strict compliance with the Nigeria Police Force social media policy. The Commissioner of Police reiterated that the IGP’s directives on the use of social media remain in force and must be strictly observed by all personnel.

Officers were cautioned against the unauthorised publication or circulation of official information, internal communications, operational details, photographs, videos, and other sensitive materials on social media platforms. They were reminded that any online conduct capable of compromising security operations, breaching confidentiality, or bringing the Force into disrepute would be addressed in accordance with applicable Force regulations and disciplinary procedures.

The Commissioner of Police urged all officers to implement the resolutions reached at the meeting, strengthen internal accountability, and remain responsive to the security needs of the public. Members of the public were equally encouraged to continue providing timely and credible information to assist the Police in preventing crime, identifying suspicious activities, and maintaining peace and public safety across Akwa Ibom State.

The Command reassures residents of its commitment to the maintenance of law and order and calls for continued public cooperation in the collective effort to sustain a safe and peaceful environment throughout the State.