Prof. STELLA-MARIS AKI OKEY

Prof. STELLA-MARIS AKI OKEY hails from Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. She attended Annunciation Girls’ Juniorate, Ogoja; Lagos State College of Education, Oto-Ijanikin; and the University of Calabar, where she obtained the General Certificate of Education (GCE), Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE), Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), Master’s Degree, and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Administration, Planning, and Supervision.
Upon completion of her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1992, where she served as a teacher at Government Secondary School, Nasarawa-Egon, she was immediately employed as a lecturer in the then Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa, where she served until the institution was transformed into the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), now University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Calabar.
A dynamic lecturer with vision and charisma, Professor Stella-Maris has earned distinctions and honours from the National Universities Commission (NUC) Virtual Institute for Higher Education Pedagogy in areas such as:
• Using New Technologies in Teaching in Higher Institutions of Learning.
• Curriculum Development in Nigeria.
• Guidance and Counselling in Higher Education.
• Empowering Students with Special Needs.
• Empowering Women for Success in Higher Education, among others.
As a diligent and patriotic Nigerian, Professor Stella-Maris has contributed immensely to national development through administrative service and community engagement, and still energetic and ready to do more. She has served in numerous capacities, including:
• Member, Disciplinary Committee, UNICROSS.
• Member, Examination Malpractice Committee, CRUTECH.
• Member, Task Force on Outstanding Results, CRUTECH.
• Head, Unit of Educational Administration and Planning, CRUTECH.
• Member, Board of Directors, Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, Calabar.
• Coordinator, UNICEF and UNDP Assisted Programmes, College of Education, Akamkpa.
• President, National Association of Women Academics (NAWACS), CRUTECH Chapter.
• Course Facilitator, NTI Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), Calabar study Centre.
• Centre Manager, Special Teachers Upgrading Programme (STUP), Akim/Mayne Avenue Study Centres.
• Member, Central Research Committee, CRUTECH
• Faculty of Education Representative to the Senate, UNICROSS.
• Member, Cross River State Transition Committee.
• Financial Secretary, ASUU CRUTECH Branch.
• Vice Chairman, ASUU CRUTECH Branch.
• National Welfare Officer, ASUU.
• National Resource person, ASUU
• President, Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Holy Family Parish, Big Qua.
• Vice Chairman, Pastoral Council, Holy Family Parish, Big Qua.
• Assistant Secretary, Calabar Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.
• Member, Board of Directors, Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria.
• Board Member, Catholic Institute of West Africa
Professor Stella-Maris Okey is passionate, hardworking, and committed to excellence in every assignment she undertakes. She is a patron of several organisations and has received numerous recognitions and awards for her selfless service, leadership qualities, and dedication to humanity. Some of these include:
• Award of Mother of Honour, Holy Family Catholic Church (2010).
• Leadership Distinction Award by the Nigeria Organisation for Youth Advancement (NOYA), South-South Zone, Port Harcourt (2010).
• Leadership Excellence Award by the Nigerian Institute of Democracy and Good Governance (NIDGG), Best University Lecturer of the Year (2009/2010).
• Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Democracy and Good Governance (2010).
• Pillar of Democracy Award by Nigeria Progressive Forum in conjunction with Citizens for Democracy and Good Leadership, Abuja (2011).
• Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administration (2005).
• Award of Honour for Contributions to Education, Nigerian Navy Secondary School, Calabar (2012).
• Appreciation Award for Valuable Services in Catholic Caritas Internationalis by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (2017).
• Fellow, Institute of Policy Management Development (2019).
• Honourable Mother of the 2019 General Harvest, St. Patrick’s Parish, Ikot Ansa, Calabar.
• Meritorious Service Award by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), CRUTECH Branch (2021)
A proficient motivational speaker and dedicated teacher, Professor Okey has facilitated and coordinated several teacher training workshops at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels within Cross River State and across Nigeria. She is actively involved in consultancy services on gender issues, HIV/AIDS, NGO development, and educational services both nationally and internationally. She has done Lead Paper and Key Note presentations in academic conferences.
Her hobbies include reading, writing, music, dancing, socialising, travelling, cooking, playing table tennis, and adding value to people’s lives.
Professor Stella-Maris has attended several professional trainings in Team Building, Risk Management, and Leadership Development and also served as a Resource Person and Content Developer of educational materials for schools. She is a member of numerous professional bodies, including:
• Nigerian Association for Educational Administration and Planning (NAEAP).
• Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
• Researchers International Network (RIN).
• European Centre for Research Training and Development, United Kingdom
She is also a Certified Teacher with Pearson Education UK and has published several journal articles, book chapters, and academic works at both national and international levels.
Professor Stella-Maris Okey is the author of the book: Essentials of Educational Management. She served as the Pioneer Head of Unit, Educational Administration and Planning; Pioneer Head of Department, Educational Management; Pioneer Director, Career Service Centre; and currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), University of Cross River State, Calabar.
She is a happy widow blessed with many children and grandchildren, to the glory of God.