By Flowerbudnews
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong, has stressed that professorship is not merely a title or reward for long service, but the pinnacle of intellectual achievement built on rigorous scholarship, originality, integrity and meaningful contributions to knowledge and society.
Prof. Offiong stated this at the Godswill Akpabio International Conference Centre, University of Calabar, during the 7th College of Postgraduate Studies Distinguished Lecture Series themed, “Who Is a Professor: The Concept, Eligibility and Profession.”_
The Vice-Chancellor said the credibility and reputation of any university depend on the standards it sets for academic excellence, a statement by the University’s Public Relations Unit stated.
Prof. Offiong reaffirmed the University of Calabar’s commitment to maintaining high standards in the professoriate, stressing that academic excellence must not be compromised by familiarity, sentiments or institutional convenience.
He urged participants to use the lecture as an opportunity to reflect, question and deepen their understanding of the responsibilities and professional ethics of being a professor.
The Chairman of the event, Prof. James Epoke, described the theme as timely and apt, noting that the concept of professorship is often viewed differently by different people.
He observed that, to a villager, a professor may simply be seen as someone whose head is “full of books,” while politicians may expect professors to remain within the academic environment rather than venture into politics.
Prof. Epoke further raised questions about what truly defines a professor, asking whether it is the number of people one has mentored, being erudite, or maintaining visibility in academia. He urged participants to pay close attention to the lecture, engage with the discourse and have a rewarding experience.
In her welcome address, the Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies, University of Calabar, Prof. Anne E. Asuquo, described the event as an important platform for bridging the gap between the university and the wider society.
Prof. Asuquo said the series promotes research, critical inquiry, innovation and meaningful engagement while deepening understanding of the true meaning of the professorial calling.
She warmly welcomed the Guest Lecturer, Professor Samson Victor Dugga, and acknowledged the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, dignitaries, academics, postgraduate students and early career researchers.
She encouraged participants to listen attentively, engage actively during the question-and-answer session, and take advantage of the lecture to broaden their academic horizons.
Delivering the lecture, Prof. Victor Samson Dugga described professorship as more than a title, but the highest recognition of excellence in teaching, research, service and scholarship.
He stressed that being a professor is a lifelong calling to knowledge, mentorship and societal development.
Prof. Dugga challenged misconceptions that professors are always old, always right or must use complex language, urging academics to encourage open discussion and respect divergent views.
He identified different categories of professors and highlighted challenges facing Nigerian universities, including inadequate resources.
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He noted that professorship is not an arrival point, but a lifelong responsibility to students, the university and society. A.
