Professor (Mrs) Grace Mbipom was born in 1943 to late Chief & Mrs E.U. Ekong of Afaha Etok, Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State. She attended the Lutheran High School, Obot Idim and W.T.C. Umahia before proceeding to the only University Nigeria has at Nsukka. After her B.Sc, in 1374 she established a home in Kaduna State where she worked for the State government as a Public School teacher.

When the family relocated to Calabar, she worked as a school teacher for Cross River State Government until she acquired the status of Mistress Grade (1) in 1986. Professor (Mrs.) Grace Mbipom’s academic sojourn in the University of Calabar began in 1987 when she was appointed a Lecturer (II) and a foundation academic staff of the new Institute of Education in the University. The challenges were enormous. She quickly became the acting head of the primary division of the institute; thus coordinator the sandwich program of the institute in 1991.

In 1992 she became the first acting head of Extension and Distance Learning Department. Her primary contribution to learning and development was the task of carrying the University to the communities in Cross River; Akwa Ibom and Abia States. Specifically, under the able leadership of Prof. Williams Pruitt (Jnr.) she developed 20 Continuing Education Centres where more than 3,000 primary school teachers were retrained. Professor Grace Mbipom visited all the Centres personally and in some cases interacted with the community leaders of those centres. Today, some of these teachers have received their B.Ed certificates while others are Ph.D holders.

Professor (Mrs.) Grace Mbipom was promoted to the Career grade of Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education in 1993, Associate Professor in 1997 and a full Professor of Educational Administration and Planning in 1999. She was a visiting scholar to the University of Uyo in 2000/2001 session. Professor (Mrs.) Grace Mbipom was also a resource person and lead discussant on Educational Financing in Nigeria and internationally. She was the editor of three outstanding journals, an external assessor for Professors of four Nigerian Universities and an external examiner for the University of Uyo.

Professor (Mrs.) Grace Mbipom is the author of one book in Educational Administration which is widely used in the University of Calabar, Cross River State University of Science and Technology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology and Bayelsa State University, Wilberforce Island. She has a total of 46 publications, 3 of which are published overseas- France, Great Britain and Natal.

In 2003 it was necessary for her to do what is not common in a Nigerian University. She changed her Department and moved to the great Department of Educational Administration and Planning in the Faculty of Education. While there she supervised five (5) Ph.D and one (1) Masters Theses.

She is a Director of Dagracem Consult and Services that carries out, among other things, refresher workshops for secondary school teachers. Apart from Educational Administration and Planning, Professor (Mrs.) Grace Mbipom is deeply into Christian and Social life of her community. She has touched many lives as a song composer, Choir Director and Trainer. She also sews bakes and cooks to keep people eating and happy. She is a mother of six and a young grandmother. Besides this Godly, Successful and Blessed Woman, there is a Man, her husband, Professor Ebong Mbipom. To God be the glory.   

 

 

The 2011 Annual lecture

TOPIC

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS, VALUES, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF NIGERIAN GRADUATING STUDENTS

GUEST LECTURER

Dr. David Kenley
Associate Professor of History

The 2011 Annual Lecture

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