UNICAL Appoints Prof. Michael Ibanga as Acting Dean of Law
The University of Calabar has appointed Prof. Michael Edet Ibanga as the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, following the suspension of the former Acting Dean by the University Senate.
Prof. Ibanga’s appointment, approved by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong, takes effect from 22 January 2026 and is for an initial period of six months.
A senior member of the Faculty, Prof. Ibanga joined the services of the University of Calabar in December 1990 and has spent over 35 years in continuous academic service. Widely regarded as one of the most experienced academics in the Faculty, he is also one of its longest-serving staff, with deep institutional memory of its traditions, policies, and administrative processes.
Prof. Ibanga is a Professor of Law whose teaching and research span International Humanitarian Law, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Human Rights Law, and Folk Law. His scholarly work includes publications on armed conflict, the Boko Haram insurgency, and the interaction between municipal and international legal regimes.
Colleagues describe him as a scholar who places strong emphasis on sincerity in interpersonal dealings, integrity, and strict adherence to due process. He is widely regarded as honest and principled, with a reputation for fairness and procedural discipline in both academic and administrative matters.
University officials disclosed that these qualities, combined with his experience and deep understanding of the Faculty’s internal workings, were key considerations in his appointment at a time when the Faculty requires stability, reconciliation, and confidence rebuilding.
In his new role, Prof. Ibanga is expected to oversee the effective administration of the Faculty for optimal productivity, ensure compliance with university regulations, deliver results within stipulated timelines and guide the Faculty through a period of institutional reset. He is also tasked with restoring internal cohesion and reinforcing confidence in established academic and administrative procedures.
The appointment has been received with optimism within the Faculty and the wider legal community, with many expressing hope that his tenure will help reposition the Faculty on the path of transparency, merit, and institutional order.
