Three Postgraduate Students Receive Scholarships From UNICAL, NCF 

Scholarships have been awarded by the University of Calabar (UNICAL) to three of its postgraduate students. 

The students were awarded the scholarships by UNICAL in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and its partners – Calgary Zoo Foundation/Wilder Institute Scholarship and Centre for Biodiversity Conservation and Research (CBCR), Ghana.

The awarding of the scholarships to the beneficiaries; David Agabi-Eneji, Adekanmbi Adeyinka and Wilfred Ayambem, is contained in a letter signed by the Director of External Relations and Partnership, Prof. Peter Okafor, and released to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Wednesday.

Okafor said Agabi-Eneji was awarded an M.Sc. scholarship in Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture for one year with effect from October 2023, while Adeyinka was awarded an M.Sc. scholarship in the same discipline for two years, with effect from this month.

Ayambem was, however, awarded a PhD scholarship in the same discipline for three years (January 2023 to January 2026).

The Director of External Relations said that the beneficiaries were selected following a successful interview for the Postgraduate Scholarship Award for the preservation and conservation of Cross River Gorillas which took place recently.

“The scholarship covers registration and tuition fees, operating and living expenses, accommodation, study materials and research fees.

“The programme is full-time and will require the awardees to submit a letter of leave of absence or study leave from their employers, if only they are on full-paid employment.

“The programme involves a mandatory three-month internship at the NCF and a compulsory one-month hands-on training during an exchange visit to CBCR.

“The University of Calabar urged the awardees to observe and adhere to the conditions governing the programme as laid out in their letters of award,” Okafor added.

Okafor advised that publications and patents stemming from the scholarship scheme should recognise the aid provided by the UNICAL/NCF Wider Institute Scholarship.