Cyprus International University has extended its condolences to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) following the tragic passing of three students and one staff member on May 1, 2026. Since the incident, there has been an outpouring of deep grief and emotion from individuals and institutions across the academic community. The condolence letter from Cyprus International University exemplifies the many messages of sympathy received by the Vice Chancellor of UNICROSS during this period. The message from Cyprus International University was conveyed in a formal letter signed by Professor Dr. Majid Hashemipour , Senior Adviser to the Board of Trustees, and addressed to Professor Francisca Bassey , Vice Chancellor of UNICROSS (see attached letter). The relationship between UNICROSS and Cyprus International University commenced in April 2026, when both institutions formalized a partnership aimed at fostering academic collaboration . This initiative forms part of UNICROSS’s b...
Orok Duke's Inauguration as Chairman of Cross River State Table Tennis Association: Spotlighting His Contributions to the Development of the Sport
It did not come as a surprise when on Monday May 4, 2026, the Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Hon. Etta Lawrence, inaugurated Rt. Hon. Orok Duke PhD , as Chairman of the Table Tennis Association in the state. Duke was inaugurated alongside several other eminent personalities to steer a clean path for the development of various sports in the state. Prior to this appointment, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke PhD had long served as a tireless advocate for sports development, particularly table tennis, in Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole. With distinguished service as Cross River’s Sports Ambassador since 2007 and later as Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission (2015–2019), he brought vision and resources to grassroots sports development. Under Duke’s leadership, the Canaan Table Tennis Club of Calabar has evolved into a national powerhouse and incubator of multiple generations of champions. From the late 1980s onward, Duke helped revive the state’s tabl...