UNICROSS Vice Chancellor Commends Staff for Thanksgiving After International Conference

📅 Posted on July 29, 2026

👁️ 12 views

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Francisca Bassey, has commended members of staff who recently attended an international conference in Cape Verde for organising a special Thanksgiving service to appreciate God for a successful outing and journey mercies.

Prof. Bassey gave the commendation on Sunday, July 26 2026, at Franphina Suites and Hotel, Calabar, during a reception organised by participants of the conference shortly after the Thanksgiving service.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor said she was deeply encouraged by the staff's decision to return thanks to God, describing the gesture as a demonstration of gratitude, faith and commitment to divine guidance. She urged staff to remain faithful in the discharge of their responsibilities and to continually put God at the centre of their service to the university.

Prof. Bassey also acknowledged the sacrifices made by members of staff towards the growth of UNICROSS and expressed confidence that with dedication, integrity and God's help, the university would continue to witness rapid transformation. She encouraged staff to remain united in pursuing the institution's vision and to justify every opportunity for professional development through improved service delivery.

Also speaking, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Stella Maris Okey, thanked the Vice Chancellor for facilitating the participation of staff at the conference. She urged beneficiaries to uphold integrity, continue praying for the success of the Vice Chancellor and the progress of UNICROSS, and resume academic activities following the suspension of the ASUU strike.

The UNICROSS TETFund Desk Officer, Dr. Anthony Otiko, attributed the success of the conference to the Vice Chancellor's commitment to staff development. He disclosed that 44 academic staff participated in the Cape Verde conference, describing it as an unprecedented feat for a Nigerian university, and announced plans for another TETFund-sponsored conference involving 76 members of staff.

Participants at the international conference who attended the Thanksgiving ceremony took turns to appreciate the Vice Chancellor for her support and pledged renewed commitment to the advancement of the university.

In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Thomas Ojikpong, commended Dr. Cassius Ogar for initiating the Thanksgiving service and thanked participants for embracing the idea. He also described Prof. Bassey as a hardworking and accessible Vice Chancellor whose leadership has inspired confidence across the university community.

Earlier, during the Thanksgiving service, Pastor Sydney Omorogbe of the Calabar Headquarters of Living Faith Church International (Winners Chapel International) delivered a sermon titled "Gateway to Financial Fortune." Drawing from Isaiah 55:9 and the account of creation in Genesis, he taught that God's economy operates differently from the world's system and that genuine prosperity begins with faithful stewardship, diligence and effective management of the responsibilities entrusted to individuals. He emphasised that many challenges often attributed to a lack of resources are, in reality, issues of poor management, urging worshippers to cultivate integrity, gratitude and faithfulness in service as the pathway to enduring success.

The sermon resonated strongly with the occasion, as it challenged the conference participants to translate the knowledge and exposure gained from the international conference into faithful service, prudent management of opportunities and greater commitment to the advancement of UNICROSS. The Thanksgiving service itself reflected the University's culture of acknowledging God as the foundation of its progress, underscoring the importance of prayer, gratitude and dependence on divine guidance in its pursuit of academic excellence and institutional transformation.