....as Dean of Agric Urges Pursuit of Excellence

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi has stated that the University is open to collaborations with the William Anam's Farm.

The Vice-Chancellor stated this when representatives of the late William Awak Anam's family paid her a courtesy visit recently.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Linkages and Collaborations, Prof. Peter C. Okafor, the Vice Chancellor while interfacing with the Anams at the University's Council Chambers said that the institution was ready to collaborate with them in areas of mutual benefits.

Prof. Obi while extending Management's condolences over the demise of their father, celebrated the faculty for making the effort to reach out.

She said collaborating with the faculty in real-time will not only improve their knowledge but also make them more active in agriculture.

The University Administrator apologized for not including the family's award in the last convocation Brochure, promising that the award will be included in the next convocation which is going to be the 50th and a milestone convocation.

She appreciated the family for the award stating that it will no doubt motivate others to be focused, especially the practical year students.

In a related development, the Dean of, the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Susan Ohen has urged students of the Faculty of Agriculture to continue to pursue excellence in all their academic endeavours.

The Dean stated that the William Anam Award which was initially planned to be presented at the just concluded 36th Convocation, was hindered due to unforeseen circumstances. Speaking during the formal presentation of the Late William Anam's maiden award for the Best Practical Year Student of the 2020/2021 graduating class held at the Faculty of Agriculture Post- Graduate Hall, Prof. Ohen said that Mr. Anam, an alumnus of the faculty, was very passionate about agriculture.

The Dean used the occasion to commend the wife and family of the Late alumnus for making his desire come true by sustaining the initiative of conferring an award on the best practical student in the faculty.

This is even as she admonished the award recipient to see it as a motivation to do more academically.

In a presentation titled; "Striving for Excellence in Academics", Prof. Ausaji A. Ayuk said to strive is to struggle, push or fight vigorously, and to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something, while excellence is the quality of being outstanding or extremely good, and academic is relating to education.

The one-time Dean of Agric thus, challenged the students to see beyond where they presently are and make sure they achieve their desired goals.

The wife of the Late William Anam thanked the University and the Faculty of Agriculture for allowing her family to confer the maiden William Awak Anam Award for the Best Practical Student.

Mrs. Maryanne William Anam stated that her late husband, the initiator of the award who unfortunately passed on in 2023 at the age of 58 was a passionate alumnus of the Faculty of Agriculture, a successful farmer with an uncanny zeal for nurturing and seeing other people grow.

To this end, she pledged on behalf of the WILLIAM ANAM FARMS that the William Awak Anam award will be sustained as an annual event for deserving students as a way of motivating them.

The high point of the event was the presentation of the award which has a cash backing of a hundred thousand naira, to the Best Graduating Student in Practicals for the 2020/2021 session by the VC'S representative, DVC, Research, Linkages and Collaborations, Prof. Peter C. Okafor to the award recipient Mr. Emmanuel John Amadi.

Public Relations Unit

University of Calabar