The Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Senator Professor Stephen Odey, was duly represented at the public presentation and launch of an academic Festschrift in honour of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Professor Florence Banku Obi. The event, held on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the University of Calabar, was hosted by the Department of Special Needs Education and featured the unveiling of the scholarly book titled “A Redefinition of Theory and Practice of Special Needs Education: A Festschrift in Honour of Professor Florence Banku Obi.”
Delivering the Commissioner’s goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Offiong Ani Offiong, extolled Professor Obi’s exceptional leadership, her transformative stewardship of the University of Calabar, and her lifelong dedication to advancing Special Needs Education and inclusive learning. She highlighted the Vice Chancellor’s visionary reforms, commitment to digital innovation, strides in academic excellence, and her relentless pursuit of equitable access to education for all learners. The Commissioner’s address also acknowledged Professor Obi’s wider contributions to the education sector in Cross River State, including her impactful service in government, her role in strengthening teacher development initiatives, and her support for collaborative educational partnerships.
The ceremony drew attendance from eminent academics and senior university administrators, including Professor Francisca Bassey, Professor Ngozi Osarenren, and other distinguished scholars who gathered to celebrate a woman widely regarded as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s educational landscape. The Festschrift was described as a well-deserved tribute to Professor Florence Banku Obi’s enduring legacy of scholarship, visionary leadership, and unwavering advocacy for inclusive and accessible education.