Convocation: UNICAL Bans Water Ritual Practice

The University of Calabar on Friday placed a ban on the practice of “water ritual’’ in the school during matriculation and convocation.

According to a statement signed by the institution’s Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, the the vice-chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, ordered the cessation of the practice, describing it as unwholesome and not academic.

In the “water ritual’’, students pour water sporadically on matriculating and graduating students as an “initiation rite’’.

Obi, however, said was no longer acceptable and constituted rights abuses.

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“The vice-chancellor has directed that the practice be discontinued against the backdrop of a viral video in which a female student was subjected to indignity at the last matriculation.

“In the video clip, a group of young men indulged in inhumane and barbaric action.

“Besides the official discontinuance of the unacceptable act, a committee has been set put to investigate the ugly act meted on the female student and those found culpable will be sanctioned appropriately.

“The Acting Chief Security Officer, retired Capt. Austin Bisong, and other relevant officers in the university have been tasked to ensure that the ugly episode never occurs again,’’ Egbe stated.