‘Don’t shy away from presenting inaugural lectures’

Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, hascharged professors in different disciplines to see inaugurallecture, as a debt owed the university system.

She gave the charge during the 45th Inaugural Lecture of theuniversity held at the Onyema Ugochukwu Hall of the institution. Represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Trenchard Ibia, Ekpo described inaugural lecture as one of the legacies of the global university system.

The vice chancellor who noted that any professor who has not presented his or her inaugural lecture is indebted to the university system, added that it was on occasions likes that the public knows what fabric professors are made of, in terms of research, reach and service to humanity.

She commended the inaugural lecturer and professor of Analytical Chemistry, Prof. Anthony Udoh, for being the first to present inaugural lecture from the Department of Chemistry. The vice chancellor, who observed that prominent names were associated with chemistry as a discipline, added that in 2012, about 162 individuals received Nobel Prize in organic chemistry from the Royal Swedish Academy of Scientists.

Flowing from this, she said that the University of Uyo was proud to have a chemist like Prof. Anthony Udoh in its employ.Udoh, in his lecture titled “Covenanted Chemist,” noted the importance of samples in the analysis of any work, adding that analytical chemistry as a discipline was concerned with the development and application of methods, instruments and strategies to obtain information on composition and nature of matter in space and time.

He explained that, some of his analytical areas of focus include crude oil, corrosion studies, environment analysis, agricultural waste and food and nutrition studies.

Prof. Udo said the topic ‘of the lecture was chosen because of the sad experiences he had in the cause of imparting knowledge to students who thought he could compromise standards. His refusal to do so, he said had most times resulted in planned assassinations, but God had always foiled such moves.