UNICROSS Senate Announces Promotions to Professorial Ranks, Approves October 19 Resumption for 2026/2027 Session

📅 Posted on October 17, 2026

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The Senate of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has announced the promotion of some academic staff to the ranks of Reader and Professor, while setting Monday, October 19, 2026, as the resumption date for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The announcements were made at the University's 123rd Regular Senate Meeting, held on Friday, October 16, 2026.
Under the promotions, nine Senior Lecturers were elevated to the rank of Reader, while seven Readers were promoted to the rank of Professor, in recognition of their academic advancement.

Those promoted from Senior Lecturer to Reader are Dr. Magdalene Obi Abam of the Department of Chemistry, Dr. Emmanuel Inyang of the Department of Broadcasting, Dr. Ibiang Ebri Ibiang of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Moses Ewa of the Department of Educational Foundation, Dr. Emmanuel Ekeng of the Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Nsed Akonjom of the Department of Physics, Dr. Aneozeng Egbe of the Department of Entrepreneurship Studies, Dr. John Inah Ukam of the Department of Mass Communication and Dr. Essien Umoh of the Department of Computer Science.

The newly promoted Professors are TPL Dr. Leonard Ukam of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Dr. Rose Okoro of the Department of Estate Management, TPL Dr. Sunday Iloke Bassey of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Dr. Samuel Osim of the Department of Plant Science Biology, Dr. Uket Ewa of the Department of Accountancy, Dr. Monday Oniah of the Department of Agricultural Economics and Dr. Obia Essien of the Department of Educational Foundation.
The academic calendar approved by the Senate provides for the commencement of the 2026/2027 academic session on Monday, October 19, 2026, and its conclusion on Friday, March 5, 2027. The Christmas break is scheduled to run from Friday, December 11, 2026, to Monday, January 4, 2027.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francisca Bassey, formally declared the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions closed. She expressed confidence that the Visitor to the University, His Excellency Governor Bassey Edet Otu, would resolve outstanding issues affecting the institution.
Prof. Bassey also called for sustained efforts to improve school fee payment, stressing that students who had not paid their fees should not be allowed to sit for examinations. She urged Faculties and Departments to support Management's efforts to strengthen compliance with the University's financial regulations.
On infrastructure, the Vice Chancellor disclosed that work was ongoing on several projects, including the new cafeteria and a hostel project being undertaken through a partnership involving the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
She also reported that the issue of encroachment on university land was being addressed, adding that Management was awaiting a final directive from the Visitor.
In addition, the Vice Chancellor announced at the meeting that the first batch of students selected for the University's foreign scholarship programme has been finalised. Eight students are expected to travel to Cyprus by the end of October 2026, with four drawn from the Faculty of Engineering and four from the Faculty of Computing.

It was resolved at the meeting that tutorial classes should be introduced to strengthen students' academic performance.
Accordingly, Faculties and Departments are expected to prepare their tutorial schedules and forward them to Management for approval.

The meeting's decisions and announcements reflect the University's continued attention to academic advancement, session planning, staff development, student support and infrastructure expansion.