The 110th Inaugural lecturer of the University of Calabar, Prof. Joe Duke II has called for the
institutionalization of mentoring programmes in Universities as a path to raising global
competitiveness.
Prof. Duke made the call at the institution's International Conference Centre while delivering the
110th Inaugural lecture of the institution on the topic: '' Hold My Hand and Lead Me On; Mentoring in
the Nigerian University System''.
According to the inaugural lecturer, a formal mentoring programme urgently needs to be instituted in
Nigerian Universities, adding that, strong institutional support should be provided for implementing
the programme.
Duke, a Professor of Business Management and current Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences
said mandatory participation in the proposed mentoring programme should be mainstreamed into
the employee's contract with the University.
The Don maintained that the Human Resource(HR) Department of the University's Registry Division
should mid-wife the mentoring programme in conjunction with the about-to-be-established academic
Human Resource Management Programme, which he said, should be challenged with the formal
mentoring initiative as the practical aspect of its curriculum.
This came as he identified mentoring as a potent strategy for raising the productivity of scholars, especially young/early-career ones in Nigerian Universities. Prof. Duke opined that mentoring leads to elevated professional identity and more seamless
transitioning into the academic environment. The Inaugural lecturer said when mentored by more experienced academics, novice educators tend
to be more productive as a result of the exposure to a deeper and wider breadth of academic roles by
the mentor, disclosing that, mentoring is also linked with higher career satisfaction and increased
organizational and departmental or organizational morale. He said although some level of mentoring exists in Nigerian Universities it is informal, which according
to him, is not integrated into any recognized system or evaluated for its positive effects on the system. The Inaugural lecturer said effective and successful formal mentoring relationships are determined by
the selection and pairing of suitable persons in the mentoring dyad, the level of institutional support
provided and the culture and climate that are supportive of diversity. Prof Duke said psychosocial support and apprenticeship contribute more significantly to the positive
effect of mentoring relationships in Nigerian Universities than other factors. The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, in her remarks, described the
inaugural lecturer as a seasoned academic whose wealth of experience in the academic world speaks
volumes. Represented by the Chairman, of the Committee of Deans, Prof. Anozeng Igiri, the Vice Chancellor
thanked the inaugural lecturer for paying his ' intellectual debt' and urged other Professors to deliver
their inaugural lectures when due. The Vice-Chancellor also charged experienced and senior academics to mentor young academics to
enable them to excel in their Profession.
Public Relations Unit
University of Calabar
BREAKING NEWS: Youths of Ikot Ansa Nab Vandals Destroying Public Utilities, Hand Over to Authorities for Prosecution
In a combined effort to curb the rampant vandalism of public utilities in Cross River State, the youth leader of Ikot Ansa, Prince, Victor Otu Iso JR, alongside his community, successfully apprehended criminals involved in the destruction of vital public infrastructure. The vandals were caught red-handed this morning, 13th day of September 2024, as they attempted to steal Amor cables belonging to state transformers at Ekpo Iso. Acting swiftly, the youth leader invited the Special Adviser on Public Utilities, Engr. Dr. Jerome Egbe KSM, and his counterpart on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, to the scene. The Special Advisers arrived promptly, accompanied by operatives of the Nigerian Police Force from the Federal Division, and took custody of the criminals. The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further interrogation and prosecution. While addressing the youths of Ikot Ansa, Engr. Dr. Egbe and Barr. Akiba commended their
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