University of Calabar

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) is a federal university in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Its motto is Knowledge for Service. The university describes its mission as producing high-quality graduates and scholars in a supportive learning environment through teaching, research and community service, and its vision as becoming a centre of excellence in teaching, research and community service.

It began as the Calabar campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which started operating in the 1973/74 session. In April 1975 the Federal Military Government announced that the campus would become a full university, one of seven institutions established in response to rising demand for higher education, and it began academic work in October 1976. It has grown from three initial faculties to more than fifteen. The Vice-Chancellor is Professor Offiong Efanga Offiong.

Academic units include the Faculties of Administration and Management Sciences; Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resource Management; Allied Medical Sciences; Arts; Arts and Social Science Education; Basic Clinical Sciences; Basic Medical Sciences; Biological Sciences; Clinical Sciences; Communication and Media Studies; Computing; Dentistry; Educational Foundation Studies; Engineering; Environmental Sciences; Law; Medical Laboratory Science; Pharmacy; Physical Sciences; Science Education; Social Sciences; and Vocational and Entrepreneurial Education. There are also the Institute of Education, the Institute of Oceanography and the Institute of Policy and Public Administration (IPPA). The university offers more than 100 programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level through a Graduate School.

More than 45,000 students are enrolled, with over 1,200 academic staff and more than 100,000 alumni worldwide. The Main Campus houses the Abraham Ordia Stadium and the Senate Chamber Conference Complex. The University Library provides physical and digital volumes, journals and archival materials, and an E-Learning Portal gives round-the-clock access to course materials and virtual classrooms.

Working professionals can study through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Virtual Campus, which provides remote lectures, interactive modules and virtual assessments. Enrolled students use the Student Portal for course registration, results, fee verification and smart ID cards.