With just six months to the end of the tenure of the current Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Nyaudo Ndaeyo, the race for the selection of his successor has commenced in earnest. One of the leading candidates is Prof. Chris Ekong, Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences. If he’s picked, he would be the second alumnus of the institution and the second professor of economics to head the institution in its 44-year history. The incumbent is also an alumnus who became VC in December 2020. A renowned economist, the well-known Prof Akpan Ekpo, was VC between 2000 and 2005.

Vice chancellors are appointed by the Governing Council of the university after a rigorous selection process that includes interview with the Council. At the end of the process, Council members vote for their preferred candidates and typically one of the top three candidates is typically announced as the winner. Unlike in the past, the President, who is the Visitor to the University, does not play overt role in the selection process. Each Council tries as much as possible to insulate the process from external influences, but in many cases, interested national political leaders still play some roles in the background. That’s where Prof Ekong has advantage over others in this race. I understand that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is in full support of Ekong’s ambition and is willing to do the much he can to assist. In this dispensation, Akpabio holds a considerable sway.

At the birthday party of Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio, wife of the Senate President, at the banquette hall of their palatial country home in Ukana, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, June 9, Senator Akpabio introduced Ekong as ‘’one of the professors who want to be VC’’. But when the microphone got to Mrs Akpabio for her remarks, she announced him as ‘’the next Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo’’. It was a high octane event with Aliko Dangote; three senators – Aniekan Bassey of Akwa Ibom North East and Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi North Central) and Ms Usoro Akpabio, the MD of South-South Development Commission, in attendance. After the lavish event, many rallied around Ekong, congratulating him.

President Tinubu has just appointed an APC chieftain and eminent lawyer, Mr. Muiz Banire, SAN, as the Chairman of Council of the university after retired general Ike Nwachukwu has turned down the appointment for ‘’personal reasons’’. Banire was a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos (1991 – 2010); commissioner for Special Duties, Transportation and Environment in Lagos under Governors Tinubu and Raji Fashola. In the Buhari administration, he was Chairman of AMCON. He’s been a member of NJC since 2017. Banire is a dyed-in-the-wool APC chieftain.

Professor Chris Ekong himself is also an APC chieftain from Uyo LGA of Akwa Ibom State. But in a recent event, he announced that he’d be withdrawing from political activities going forward to concentrate on his job. Ekong was a commissioner in the administrations of Obong Victor Attah and Godswill Akapbio. Popularly known as HOTRICO by friends and associates, Ekong has been Head of Department of Economics at the university and has also held many other positions within and outside the university. He graduated with a B.Sc. (Hon) Economics from the University of Uyo in 1988 (then known as the University of Cross River State; M.Sc. Economics, University of Port Harcourt (1991) and Ph.D. Economics, University of Uyo (2002).

Professor Ekong has published extensively in local and international journals.

So far, no fewer than five professors have expressed interest in the job. They include Idara Akpan; Enoidem Usoro and Daniel Offiong. Offiong is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) whom the incumbent VC is rooting for as a successor. In fact, a controversial clause in the press advertisement for the job which specifies that candidates must have published 10 journal articles in two years is said to have been inserted to favour Offiong. The requirement has, however, been widely disputed by older professors. ‘’Unless you are publishing in a roadside journal, it is practically impossible to have 10 publications in reputable journals in two years’’, a former VC of UniUyo told me.