KOKO Women In Education: Florence Banku Obi Is Indeed Smashing The Glass Ceiling In The Field Of Education

Professor Florence Banku Obi is a Nigerian academic, author and professor of special education. She has been climbing the academic stairs for years and she has become a force to reckon with in the educational field. She is one of KOKO’s Nigerian women in education who is smashing the glass ceiling. Florence Banku Obi is the 11th substantive vice-chancellor of the University of Calabar and the first female vice-chancellor since the inception of the institution. Florence Banku Obi hails from Boki local government area in Cross River State. She began her academic career as an Assistant Lecturer at the Institute of Education, the University of Calabar in March 1990 (30 years ago). Two years after her appointment, with her utmost desire to foster a bold and innovative spirit in faculty teaching and academic excellence, she won a 6-months postgraduate scholarship to Jordan-Hill College of Education, Glasgow, Scotland, under the World University Service (WUS) World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in a keenly contested interview for staff of the Institute of Education. On her return from the United kingdom, she was placed in charge of the WWF/NCF funded schools and Community Education Programmes. 
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She subsequently facilitated the development of the degree programme in Environmental Education of the University, which has since resulted in the establishment of a full-fledged and flourishing Department of Environmental Education. As Dean, Florence Banku Obi pioneered the take-off of 22 affiliate programmes of the Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State and the Federal College of Education, Kastina-Ala, Benue State to the faculty of Education of the University of Calabar.
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Professor Florence Banku Obi had also served as the Chairperson of University of Calabar International Demonstration School (formerly called University of Calabar International Secondary School) where she left lasting physical legacies to her credit. Following her credibility, integrity and commitment to service, she was voted as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) by the University Senate. As DVC Academics, she was also a member of the University Governing Council, where she brought her wealth of experience to bear in the growth and development of the University. Her educational timeline from include St Bridget’s Primary School, Ogep Osokom, Boki, Cross River State, F.S.LC. 1969; St Thomas’s Teachers Training College, Ogoja; Cross River State, T.C. 11 1983; University of Jos, Jos Nigeria; B.Ed(Hons) Special Education, 1988; M.Ed. Special Education, 1990; Jordan Hill College of Education, Glasgow-Scotland; PGCEE, 1993. University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Ph.D Psychology of Education, 2002. Professor Florence Banku Obi has served as an Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and member of Cross River State Executive Council, 2007. Professor Obi is a recipient of many Awards/Honours, including the Student Union Government, University of Calabar, “Award as the most student-friendly Dean of the Faculty” in 2014.    
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