PROFESSOR COMFORT MEMFIN EKPO
BLS, Ed.; Med. (Zaria); Ph.D. (Wales)
Professor of Educational Technology
Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo
Prof. (Mrs.) Comfort M. Ekpo, an epitome of feminine prowess and a stellar pioneer in her very many fields of academic endeavour, was the fourth substantial Vice Chancellor and the first female head of the University of Uyo. Born in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to Chief and Mrs. Etim Udo Isok. Prof. Comfort Ekpo is married to Prof. Memfin Ekpo, a Medical Consultant and a Professor of Pathology. They are blessed with children.
Prof. (Mrs.) Comfort M. Ekpo attended some of the best schools in Nigeria and overseas, and did brilliantly well. She is a product of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos; Federal Government College, Kaduna; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Wales, Cardiff, and University of the West of England, Bristol both in the United Kingdom. Professor Comfort Ekpo has published widely in national and international journals. Her research interest is in Instructional Media Development and Learning Resource Management. She is the team leader in a nationwide literacy research on fast-tract reading strategies, and the Ambassador of the READ AND WRITE NOW, (RAWN) Project. She was promoted Professor of Educational Technology in October, 2001 making history as the first female Professor in the University of Uyo.
Prof. (Mrs.) Comfort Ekpo has served her University in various capacities: the Acting Head, Department of Educational Technology and Library Science; Director, Institute of Education; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic); and finally appointed Vice-Chancellor, University of Uyo in December, 2010. Prof Comfort is an academic to the core. She had earlier lectured in the Universities of Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Ahmadu Bello Zaria all in Nigeria. She has served the nation in various capacities including membership of Commonwealth Scholarship Board, resource person to National Universities Commission, Federal and State Ministries of Education, Women and Social Development. She is the first female Board member of the Association of African Universities (AAU). She is a former Member of Governing Council, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Member of Council, Ritman University, Akwa Ibom State Nigeria, Member, International Advisory Board of Universal Learning Solutions; Adviser, Commonwealth Scholars And Fellows Alumni Association Nigeria (COSFAN); Chairman, Governing Board of Redeemer International Schools (Science & Technology College) and Founder of Women In Total Girl Development (WIT-GIRL) a non-governmental organisation for the mentoring of girls. She has made great impact in the lives of women and the youth.
The administration of Prof. Comfort Ekpo brought University of Uyo into great prominence academically. It witnessed the movement of the Central Administration from temporary site to the permanent campus after twenty four (24) years of the establishment of the University; the establishment of Foundation Programme at Abak campus to create more access to higher education; the establishment of the Gender Centre in the University of Uyo for more inclusiveness in national development; the establishment of Students’ Support Scheme (The Hope Project) for academically outstanding but indigent students; institution of Honour Rolls for students with outstanding academic performance. The main campus at Nsukara witnessed rapid development as lecture theatres and other functional buildings sprung up to give the campus a befitting outlook.
Prof. Comfort Memfin Ekpo has over fifty awards and honours in recognition of her high administrative sagacity, discipline, honesty, sincerity and dependability. She is a good team player.
Prof. Comfort Ekpo, a devout Christian, is a strong advocate of women empowerment and youth development, maintaining that these are some of the essentials for building a strong, united and prosperous nation.
i. West African School Certificate (WASC) - 1973
ii. Higher School Certificate (H.S.C.) - 1975
iii. Bachelor of Library Science (Second Class Upper) - 1978
iv. Graduate Certificate in Education - 1978
v. M.Ed. (Instructional Technology) - 1985
vi. Ph.D. (Educational Technology) - 1990
vii. Teacher Registration Certificate - 2005
viii. Post Doctoral Fellowship - 2006
i. Federal Government scholarship Award, Nigeria 1981 – 1983
ii. Academic Staff Commonwealth scholarship Award, United Kingdom (UK)1987 – 1990
iii. Commonwealth Academic Fellowship Award, United Kingdom 2005/2006
iv. Federation of UNESCO Clubs of Nigeria Honourary Award as "Pillar of Children Development" 1999
v. Women in Nigeria (WIN) Award of Excellence for Women Development 2001
vi. Virtuous Women Services Foundation, Award of Excellence in Women Development 2001
vii. Distinguished Award for Best Performance in the Nigerian Public Service for the year 2003
viii. National Association of Women in AcademicAward of Excellence (NAWAC) 2004
ix. Woman of the Year 2004 Award by The American Biographical Institute and Board of International Research, USA 2004
x. Project Impact (PI), Award of Excellence for hardwork 2005
xi. Global Newstrend, Award of Excellence for National Development (Professional Category) 2006
xii. Listed in WHO is WHO in Akwa Ibom State 2006
xiii. Listed in the first and second Edition of the Compendium of Akwa Ibom Women Achievers As IBOM JEWEL 2006 & 2009
xiv. Honorary Award for Women Development by the Oron Women Association 2006
xv. Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Akwa Ibom State Leadership Award 2007
xvi. Award of Recognition by Ifa Atai Development Union 2007
xvii.National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS) Award 2008
xviii. Award of Honour by Nigeria Association of Educational Media and Technology (NAEMT) 2009
xix. Award of Excellence by Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio 2009
xx. Award of Honour by Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) 2009
xxi. Award of Excellence in Educational Development by University of Uyo Alumni Association 2009
xxii. Fellow of Nigeria Association of Educational Media and Technology (FNAEMT) 2010
xxiii. Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Education 2013
Before Joining The University
i. Teacher Librarian at Immaculate Conception Secondary School, Itak: From August, 1978 – June, 1979.
ii. Reference Librarian at the Ministry of Education, Cross River State Library Board, July, 1979 – September, 1980.
iii. Teacher Librarian/Mistress II at the Universal Primary Education Teacher’s College, Zaria, October, 1980 – November, 1981.
In The University System
i. A part time Lectureship at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria: From March 1981 – December, 1982.
ii. Appointed Lecturer III in the Defunct College of Education, Uyo, in the Faculty of Education: From January, 1983.
iii. Upgraded to Teaching Assistant in the Cross River State University (CRSU), Uyo: From September, 1983
iv. Promoted Asst. Lecturer with effect from 1st August, 1984, CRSU, Uyo.
v. Promoted Lecturer II with effect from 1st October, 1986, CRSU, Uyo.
vi. Absorbed into the service of the University of Uyo with effect from October, 1991.
vii. Promoted Lecturer 1 with effect from 1st October 1990, University of Uyo.
viii. Promoted Senior Lecturer with effect from 1st October 1993, University of Uyo.
ix. On Sabbatical Leave as Associate Professor at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, 1999 / 2000.
x. Promoted Associate Professor with effect from 1st October 1998, University of Uyo.
xi. Promoted a Professor of Educational Technology with effect from 1st October, 2001.
xii.Appointed Acting Head, Department of Educational Technology and Library Science, University of Uyo, 1993 – 1999.
xiii. Appointed Acting Director, and then Director, Institute of Education, University of Uyo, 2000 – 2006.
xiv. Elected from Senate to serve as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the University of Uyo, 2006 – 2008.
Responsibilities
(i) Provision of academic, professional and administrative leadership to the Department of Educational Technology and Library Science for six (6) years.
(ii) Design and mounting of a Diploma programme and Bachelor Degree in Library and Information Science.
(iii) Organization of a state-wide instructional media production workshop for Primary and Secondary School teachers.
(i) Introduction of conference computation of the backlog results.
(ii) Coordination of twenty (20) undergraduate programmes from the Affiliate College of Education at Ila-Orangun, in Osun State.
(iii) Hosting of first annual national conferences and seminars on topical issues throughout my tenure. This culminated in the publication of a Book of Reading titled, “Effective Teaching of Science, Technology and Mathematics (STM) in Education” and the birth of Institute of Education Journal titled, “The Journal of Research and Development in Education” (JORDE).
(iv) Introduction of a collaborative research on Phonics with some United Kingdom - based researchers, “Stepping Stones Nigeria” – UK and Chris Jolly learning resources). The use of Jolly Phonics learning resources - a fast track reading scheme now accepted by Akwa Ibom State government to be used in the training of all primary one and two teachers in the state and adopted by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBE) for training of primary school teachers in all States.
(i) University Research Committee: I intensified efforts to source for research grants by locating possible donor agencies globally and linking them up with relevant faculties. This paid off as five of our proposals were accepted for funding by the Science and Technology Post-Basic (STEP – B) project authorities. More linkage institutions were also identified for collaboration.
(ii) Committee on the Review of Academic Brief: The Academic brief is a vital University document that guides the institution. Due to global changes in technology and labour market needs, we undertook review of academic programmes to meet the present needs.
(iii) University Library Committee: The library was repositioned during my tenure. The University of Uyo Library has been restructured into three (3) organizational units with emphasis on a better service delivery. Faculty resource rooms were also established to meet national standard and improve quality of education.
(iv) In-House Accreditation Committee: I introduced an innovative quality control structure, the In-house Accreditation Committee where programmes to be visited by National Universities Commission (NUC) were periodically monitored by senior academics versed in national accreditation exercise. This strategy built confidence among the faculties in preparation for the NUC accreditation exercise.
(v) Senate Appeal Committee: All cases referred to this committee were objectively and timely looked into and reported to Senate for necessary action.
(vi) Committee on Collaborative Research with Texas Technical University: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the two (2) institutions for mutual benefit.
(vii) Investigation Committee on Ethical Impropriety: Report on this was submitted and appropriate action taken.
(viii) Investigation Committee on Request for Cancellation and Rescheduling of Economic ECN 311: Report was submitted and appropriate action affecting both students and lecturers have been taken.
(ix) Science & Technology Education Post-Basic (STEP-B) Project: Effective follow up of the five approved projects resulted in three of these being funded by the World Bank.
(x) Committee on Affiliate Institutions: This committee facilitates affiliation of institutions of higher learning with University of Uyo and helps in resource promotion assessment by NUC.
(xi) University Examination Conduct Monitoring Committee: A five-man committee was instituted during my tenure to monitor and regulate the conduct of semester examination in the entire University.
(xii) Project supervision: I have supervised forty two (42) undergraduate (B.A, B.Sc. B.Ed.) and Postgraduate students (PGDE, MSc (Ed) and PhD) to date.
(xiii) Representation of the Vice Chancellor within and outside Akwa Ibom State for a total of eighty (80) days.
i. A National Treasurer and member, Nigeria Association of Education Media and Technology (NAEMT) 1992 – 1996.
ii. A member of Association for Promoting Quality Education in Nigeria (APQEN).
iii. A National Treasurer and member, Association for Research in Education and Humanities (AREH) 1990 – 1995.
iv. A member, Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD).
v. A member of the National School Library Association (NSLA).
vi. A zonal Coordinator and member of Gender, Science and Technology Association (GASAT- Nigeria Chapter).
vii. Member, National Association of Women Academics (UJOWACS).
viii. Member, International Association for Continuing Professional Development (IACPD).
ix. Member, Nigerian Academic of Education (MNAE)
i) External Examiner – NCE Examination for Educational Technology and Micro teaching; Principles and Practice of Education. Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit, 1994 – 1999
ii) External Examiner – First Degree, Osun State College of Education, Ila – Orangun, 2000 - 2006.
iii) External Examiner – Post graduate candidates (MSc. and PhD) in Educational Technology, University of Port Harcourt, 2005 till date.
iv) External Examiner – Ph.D. Oral Examination in Educational Technology. University of Benin. 1997.
v) Assessment of Professorial candidates for Federal University of Science & Technology, Mina, University of Benin, Benin City and the University of Jos, Plateau, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010.
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