By Joy UmoÂ
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Professor Francisca Bassey, has presented the University’s 2025 performance report to the Cross River State Commissioner of Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on 6 February 2026, Professor Bassey, accompanied by the University Management Team and Governing Council members, highlighted key achievements since assuming office. These include the commencement of minimum wage payments for staff, successful NUC accreditation of 18 new and previously unaccredited programmes, and significant infrastructure developments across the three campuses.
Notable projects cited include an entrepreneurship workshop at Ogoja Campus, en-suite offices for department heads, new laboratories, a modern gymnasium, renovated hostels, furnished offices, and campus-wide free internet connectivity. The University also procured interactive boards for online teaching, upgraded studios and labs, and obtained a broadcasting licence for the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies.
On academics, Professor Bassey stressed improvements in result processing, with over 50 million outstanding results uploaded and efforts underway to ensure affected students graduate promptly. She addressed misconceptions about certificate issuance, confirming there are no pending certificates.
The Vice Chancellor also announced the University’s first tuition fee increase since 2009, citing rising costs, and appealed for urgent state support to fund staff salaries, recruit additional personnel, improve take-off grants, enhance campus security, and construct access roads at Ogoja Campus.
Responding, Commissioner Odey praised Professor Bassey and the University for the steady progress, affirmed the Ministry’s continued support, and expressed confidence that all recently assessed programmes would receive full accreditation. He also promised a Ministry delegation would soon visit UNICROSS to review ongoing developments.
The visit included key management officials from both UNICROSS and the Ministry of Education, including the Deputy Vice Chancellors, Registrar, Bursar, Director of Academic Planning, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.