As part of activities to celebrate the University of Calabar (UNICAL) 50th Anniversary, the management has disclosed plans to develop sports and recreational facilities for the successful hosting of the Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA) 2026.

The UNICAL Vice Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, disclosed this yesterday while briefing the press at the council chambers during the flag-off ceremony of the institute’s anniversary, tagged “UNICAL @50.”

She said the development of sports and recreational facilities is one of the expected achievements of the unique ceremony for the 50th anniversary of the institute, adding that UNICAL was granted the hosting rights after about 33 years.

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Prof. Obi highlighted other expected achievements targeted at promoting excellence and the UNICAL brand as follows: the commencement of foundation work for a standard senate building befitting a 50-year-old second-generation university and the construction of a convocation arena for academic ceremonies.

According to her, since 1975, the university, being among the seven second-generation universities established under the National Higher Education Expansion Programme of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has grown from a student population of 406 to over 40,000, with a staff population of over 80,000.

The VC further disclosed that the ceremony would feature the honoring of alumni, staff (both academic and non-teaching), and principal officers who have been very supportive in diverse ways to the growth and development of the university.