By Anita John 
CALABAR | OCT 31: Former Commissioner for Education, Professor Offiong Efanga Offiong, has emerged as the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL). He succeeds Prof. Florence Banku Obi.
Offiong, an alumnus of UNICAL, was confirmed as the new VC on Friday by the Governing Council of the institution, chaired by Udom Ekpoudom.
Ekpoudom disclosed that Offiong was selected after a rigorous screening process involving 10 aspirants.
The new VC has over three decades of experience in teaching and administration.
Profile of Offiong Efanga Offiong
Offiong Efanga Offiong, born 6 November 1963, is a Nigerian professor of coordination and inorganic chemistry, who served as the Education Commission in Cross River between 2007 – 2015.
Early life and education
Offiong was born in Calabar. He completed his primary education in 1974 and attended Hope Waddell Training Institution, Calabar, where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1979.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Coordination/Inorganic Chemistry in 1984 and 1990 respectively from the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
He underwent part of his doctoral studies in Germany’s Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich. And later obtained a certificate in Scientific Equipment Maintenance from Bristol Polytechnic in the United Kingdom.
Academic career
He joined the services of UNICAL after his Nations Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1985 as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Chemistry, rising through the ranks to become a full professor in 2002.
Professor Offiong has published research in peer-reviewed journals and has served as an external examiner in several Nigerian institutions.
He was announced as the 12th substantive Vice Chancellor of UNICAL on Friday, October 31, 2025 by the institution’s Governing Council.
Administrative and public service roles
He has held various administrative positions within the university system, including Head of Department, Sub-Dean, Dean, and member of the University Senate and Governing Council.
From 2007 to 2015, he served as the Commissioner for Education in Cross River State. He also served as Chair of the All Nigerian Conference of Commissioners for Education and was a member of national committees on education reform and policy implementation.
He once served as the Chairman of UNICAL chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and later as a National Vice-President of the union.
Research interests
Offiong’s research focuses on coordination chemistry, including the synthesis and characterization of transition metal complexes and their theoretical applications. He is married and blessed children.
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Opeyemi Quadri