The University of Calabar (UNICAL) and the Cross River Ministry of International Development Cooperation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technical support for activities of the ministry.
The signing of the MoU followed a visit by the Vice Chancellor of UNICAL, Prof. Florence Obi, to the Commissioner, Dr Inyang Asibong in April 2021.
During the visit she had sought the collaboration and partnership of the ministry with the university.
Speaking on Friday in Calabar, the Commissioner said that the Ministry of International Development was saddled with the responsibility of interfacing with donor and international agencies for sustainable development on behalf of the State.
Asibong said the MoU would open the frontiers for UNICAL to also participate and offer consultancy service to various programmes carried out by the ministry in partnership with international funding agencies.
“This partnership promises to be fruitful and productive. For a long time now we have been importing consultants from outside, but this MoU will help us to harness the manpower from UNICAL.
“We are confident that University of Calabar will offer us the best consultants that we need in our various programmes. For us as a ministry, we are committed to sustaining this partnership.
“The Ministry of International Development Cooperation is coordinating the United Nations; and European Union-funded programmes in the state, hence we need the technical support from University of Calabar,” she said.
Asibong also informed the Vice Chancellor that 2022 would be a strategic year for national and international funded programmes in the state, hence the timely partnership with the university to offer consultancy services.
The Commissioner congratulated the Vice Chancellor on her one year anniversary in office, saying that she had recorded meaningful achievements for the growth of the institution.
Responding, the Vice Chancellor said that her administration was desirous of partnering critical institutions, government ministries and agencies for optimal growth and development of the institution.
“International donor agencies are more comfortable in dealing with government ministries for their programmes, hence the need for UNICAL to step in and offer consultancy service because we have the manpower.
“I want to commend the state government for this partnership and for looking inward to tap from our university. On our part, we are ready for this partnership.
“I am confident that this partnership agreement we signed today will bring great things to the University of Calabar,” she said.
(NAN)