The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Francisca Bassey, has commended the commitment of newly inducted members of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Special Marshals Unit of the University, describing their voluntary service as an important contribution to road safety, traffic management and institutional development.
Prof. Bassey gave the commendation on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the formal decoration of the newly inducted marshals in her office. She also announced plans to make membership of the unit mandatory for key university appointees, to strengthen participation, institutional ownership and collective responsibility.
The Vice Chancellor praised the inductees for their willingness to serve and underscored the professional recognition associated with membership of the Special Marshals Unit. She expressed confidence that greater involvement by University officials would strengthen the unit and promote a shared commitment to safety and orderliness across the University's campuses.
“Your contributions and status as Special Marshals carry international recognition. You can serve effectively anywhere in the world because this role is respected not just locally, but at both state and international levels. Going forward, I am going to make membership of this unit mandatory for all appointees, especially Directors and key officials, so that we can build a strong unit and operate as a united family,” she stated.
Prof. Bassey urged the newly decorated marshals to remain committed to their responsibilities, encouraging them to devote between 10 and 30 minutes daily to volunteer service to facilitate smooth traffic flow and promote safety within the University community.
The unit comprises academic and non-academic staff drawn from the University's Calabar, Ogoja and Okuku campuses, underscoring the institution-wide nature of the initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony, Engr. Dr. Steve Takim, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, traced the process leading to the formation of the unit to a directive received approximately two months earlier concerning the recruitment of new members.
He credited the Vice Chancellor's vision and support for the progress made, describing the decoration ceremony as an opportunity to present the outcome of the recruitment and training exercise to the University Management.
“This achievement reflects the visionary leadership of our Vice Chancellor. It was only right that we present the tangible results of that vision. The Management can be proud to present these UNICROSS staff members, who are now official members of the Federal Road Safety Special Marshals,” he said.
Engr. Dr. Takim disclosed that more than 120 staff members across the campuses initially expressed interest in joining the unit. He added that out of these, 61 applications were collated and screened, after which the applicants underwent more than six weeks of rigorous training. Those who met the required criteria successfully completed the process, while administrative, financial and qualification-related challenges led to some applicants withdrawing.
Also speaking, Prof. Emmanuel Ogban, Head of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the successful completion of the exercise and thanked the Vice Chancellor for her support in facilitating the development of the inductees. He described the occasion as a memorable milestone and expressed delight at being among the newly decorated marshals.
The occasion was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Stella Maris-Okey; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Thomas Ojikpong; the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs) Catherine Ndifon Osai; the University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs) Victoria Iyishu; and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Onen Ebri Onen.
The initiative reflects Prof. Bassey's commitment to strengthening staff participation in university service activities and promoting a safer, more disciplined and orderly environment. With increased involvement from key appointees, the unit is expected to enhance traffic management and reinforce a culture of shared responsibility across UNICROSS campuses.
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