C'River Permanent Secretary Warns Freshers Against Cultism, Supports UNICAL Mass Com With Executive Tables,Chairs

Ugo Solomon and Ukpa Abraham, Calabar

 The Permanent Secretary, Special Services, Governor’s Office Calabar,Dr Alfred Mboto, has   admonished freshers in the department of Mass Communication, University of Calabar to avoid cultism in order to wade off the  adverse effect associated with such anti social behaviour.

Dr Mboto, gave the charge on Tuesday during a lecture entitled, "Campus Cultism: Dangers and the way out" for freshmen and women in the department of Mass Communication.

Describing cultism as an anti social behaviour which must be avoided like a plague, he however advised students to imbibe good character  and studiousness that would place them in good light as future media professionals.

"Let me congratulate all the freshers present and participating in this orientation exercise. You will agree with me that, it is not easy, at this time of our nation where cultism is very popular among the youth and with the sustained recruitment into cultism day by day, to find people like you who sat and passed JAMB without help and are here for this orientation. This reason makes this exercise and the talk very apt".

He also averred that, "this exercise is a foundation of your voyage to making renown great men and women, news casters and professionals. It is a platform to give the freshers executable advice from fathers, professionals, holders of or fruits of long-time experiences and obedience to nature in character formation and trade acquisition to enable smooth take-off in your studies in the department and university in safety and peace".

The permanent secretary who has been at the forefront of mitigating and containing security challenges in Cross River State expressed delight over the initiative taken by the department of Mass Communication to organise an orientation for freshers of the department. He pledged to support the department with three executive tables  and 63 chairs as part of his goodwill towards the department.

In recognition of his sterling contributions in directing youths to the right path through mitigation and containment measures against social vices, the guest speaker,Dr Mboto was presented with an award of honour by the leadership of the department. In the same vein, Dr Eric Ogri, a staff of the department bagged an award of excellence for his dedication to service in the discharge of his duty.

The orientation exercise featured presentations by lecturers of the department on topical issues aimed at shaping  students both in character and learning. They include the immediate past Head of Department,Dr Joseph Ekpang who shared the university and the department's history and vision. 

Similarly, Dr Lawrence Ekwok, presented a topic on campus life, academic,social, communal and spiritual matters while Dr Presley Obukoadata anchored on studies and time management. Other lecturers like; Dr Patrick Ene-Okon, Dr Ebituru Pepple, Dr Stanis Iyorza, Godwin Omelagha,Mrs Faith Agbo and Joan Nweke made presentations that guided students on issues that would facilitate their success as students of the department.

Fr Leonard Ojorgu while expressing gratitude to the Head of Department,Prof Chukwuemeka Okugo for the confidence reposed on him as Chairman  of the Planning Committee for 2020/2021 orientation for freshers of the department. On behalf of members of the committee, he  appreciated staff of the department for "overwhelming support during the course of the exercise".