The Ubuntu Spirit in Uniuyo: The Prof. Ekong Philosophy

By Nelson Utip

Ubuntu is an African philosophy that posits that human identity, dignity and self-worth are shaped and sustained through relationship with family, community and the wider world. It is an African humanist philosophy based on the maxim that “A person is a person through other persons, I am because we are”.

It traces its origin from Zulu and Xhosa tribes of South Africa. In Ibibioland there is an axiom that _”eto idaha ikpong ikapa akai” “A tree does not make a forest”.Some of the core principles of Ubuntu include interconnectedness, collective responsibility, empathy and compassion and collaborative justice. The philosophy depicts that people don’t exist in isolation, success is tied to the success of others. An only rich man in a community, is a poor man as every other individual will depend on him for survival.

A community succeeds through mutual support, caring for the needy and watching the back of the vulnerable.For a society to succeed, kindness, fairness, hospitality and respect for human worth should be the watchword. Resolution of conflicts should be faced with healing, forgiveness so as to restore social harmony in the society. Isolation is dangerous.In governance, good leaders deploy the Ubuntu philosophy to foster healing and boost togetherness. The spirit of forgiveness is embraced practically by good leaders to create a peaceful society.In Education, Ubuntu helps to build an inclusive ambience and a collaborative learning environment.Ubuntu deconstructs individualism, it counters ego-driven or hyper-individualistic systems.

It is a pointer to the fact that personal success should be backed by the community or it is meaningless.Great leaders like Nelson Mandela of South Africa embraced Ubuntu to succeed, he saw forgiveness as key to building a new South Africa when he was released from the prison after 27years, he left all the hatred of the whites and bitterness in his heart at Robben Island and came out a truly free man.Something spectacular happened in the University of Uyo on April 30, 2026, an erudite Scholar, Professor Christopher Ekong, an Economist was appointed the 9th substantive Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo. This followed an interregnum as Prof. Samuel Adewumi held the position when there was a lull in the process of appointing a Vice Chancellor after the tenure of Prof. Ndaeyo.Prof. Ekong did not just wake up to be appointed the Vice Chancellor, he grew through the ranks, handled sensitive responsibilities and rose painstakingly through years of hard work. He once served as Commissioner for The Ubuntu Spirit in Uniuyo: The Prof. Ekong Philosophy and Sports in Akwa Ibom State, Head of Department, Economics of the Institution, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences among others sensitive responsibilities that prepared him for the top job.Prof.

Ekong came prepared, and on his inaugural speech rolled out projects and programmes people thought were herculean tasks. In less than 100 days in office fulfilled more than 85% of those pledges.In tandem with the Ubuntu spirit, Prof. Ekong believes in building people as he is aware that he cannot succeed in isolation. He builds a team of highly intellectual individuals around his office, Professor Ini Uko an erudite Professor of Literary Studies was appointed his Vice Chancellor, Academics, while Professor Enobong Ikpeme Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Nephrology was appointed the Vice Chancellor, Administration. Both are thoroughbred academics who have excelled both in academics and administration.Prof. Ekong builds a team of very intelligent people around him; he knows the task he is undertaking is herculean and does not accommodate feeble minds and unmerited personalities. He walks the talk and takes the welfare of his staff seriously by providing necessary tools for them to function optimally. In his first 100 days he provided official vehicles for all the deserving officers.

Like Mandela, Prof. Ekong left all the bitterness he encountered on his way to the exalted office, he embraces his perceived enemies, he did not suddenly develop amnesia and enclose himself in a cyst but opens up his office door for easy access.Prof. Ekong came with a blueprint, he knows that success can only be achieved in a peaceful ambience, to this end, an age long dispute with the host community of Use Offot was settled like magic; yes, he has a magic wand naturally developed to break fortresses on his way to success.As an Ubuntu philosopher, Prof. Ekong has built a collaborative learning environment since assumption of office as the Vice Chancellor, he has upgraded facilities in many faculties and departments, student’s results are uploaded with ease including backlogs.Security is a priority in the new Uniuyo, with zero tolerance to cultism and other vices, the new V.C has brought life back to the campuses, addressing Students Union Government, EXCO members who paid him a Courtesy Call to mark his 100 days in office, he commended the students for maintaining peace on campus with no cult incident since he resumed as the Vice Chancellor.Prof. Ekong is the rallying point of other Federal University Vice Chancellors in the South South of Nigeria, recently The South South Development Commission, SSDC, pledged to collaborate with the Federal Universities in the region in a meeting hosted at Uniuyo by the Vice Chancellor. A listening ear always, the Vice Chancellor embarked on a town hall meeting in all the campuses including the Medical School, before marking this 100 day in officer, this is in tandem with the spirit of Ubuntu, listening to the problems of various stakeholders in order to proffer solutions. He avoids the hyper-individualistic mantra and ego-driven mien, he still mingles with his peers, and still relates with his old friends. Prof. Ekong creates a conducive working environment with infrastructural facilities; all the internal roads in the main campus are tarred, hostels are renovated with basic amenities, workshops are built and equipped for effectiveness.

The verve exuded by Prof. Ekong since taking over as Vice Chancellor leaves many to ponder on where these funds are coming from. He takes the welfare of Staff as a priority, putting smiles on faces, that is the spirit of Ubuntu.In all these, Prof. Ekong does not parade a fleet of automobiles, he is not flamboyant in any way and maintains a low profile as an economist!A sports enthusiast, interacting with Newsmen, during his 100 days in office commemoration, he elucidated how he will export talents with the provision of a sports facility that will stand the test of time. He has been a football star since his days as a student of Etinan Institute and was very active in Inter-Faculty football tournaments representing the Faculty of Social Sciences during his undergraduate days at the then University of Cross River State, UNICROSS.Prof. Ekong is a patron of the All Stars International and in the Ubuntu spirit still identifies and trains with the All Stars for fitness.To the University of Uyo, it is uhuru! The righteous is on the throne and the people are happy. A respondent of a recent Vox Pop on Prof. Christopher Ekong on his achievements in his 100 days in office, Mrs. Ekemini Akpan, the Administrative Secretary, The Institute of Education had this to say, “Prof. Christopher Ekong is a promise keeper. He is the messiah we have been praying for. We call him ‘The Bigger Paymaster’. In percentage I can give him 99.9, the remaining fraction is for the remaining years.”In Uniuyo, better days are here as Professor Ekong blazes the trail as a promise keeper.

Nelson Utip is the South South Bureau Chief, The Matrix Newspaper.