The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Zana Akpagu has warned new students to desist from cultism and other forms of crimes.
He said that appropriate sanctions would be meted out on students found belonging to nocturnal organizations and cult groups.
Akpagu gave the warning at the 40th matriculation ceremony of the institution, which involved over 9,200 students for the 2017/2018 academic session.
He noted that the occasion marked the official entry of every new student into the higher institution of learning since it was a statutory gathering to formally admit deserving and qualified candidates that had been offered admission into the institution.
He further said that the ceremony also signified the conclusion of the admission processes for the year, disclosing a total number of 9,200 candidates were offered admission from a total number of 37, 278 candidates who applied to the University of Calabar.
Prof Akpagu informed the freshmen that they were not expected in any manner to socialise with any association that had been proscribed by the university such as the infamous “secret cults”, noting that the penalties for misconducts were contained in the university handbook.
While advising them to show respect to colleagues and staff of the University so as to make their stay fruitful and productive, Prof Akpagu urged them to be modest and decent in their dressing and approach to issues.
The Vice Chancellor assured students of maximum security in the University, while appealing that they should not hesitate to report any suspicious activity to the Dean, Students Affairs, Security Officers and the Courses’ Advisers.
According to him, the institution was working assiduously in ensuring that the university was put on the global map, hence, going into collaboration and linkages that were yielding very positive dividends to the university community.
He disclosed that the university was on the verge of achieving uninterrupted power supply via an ongoing Solar Energy Project with the German government, including scholarship awarded to 47 deserving students with a commitment to make it an annual event by the people Republic of China through her Embassy in Nigeria as well as the introduction of Korean studies into the curriculum of the Bassey Andah Centre for African and Asian Studies.