An Academic staff and a Post-Graduate student, both of the University of Calabar have been awarded the 2023 Commonwealth Split-Site Scholarship tenable at Queen's University, Belfast to enable them to carry out part of their PhD research work.

The recipients; are Mr Joseph Odolomarun Akuirene a Lecturer 11 in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, and Mr Finian Tobias Okoro, a postgraduate student in the Department of Biological Oceanography.

In a statement, the Director, of the Directorate of External Relations and Partnership, Prof. Peter C. Okafor said the award would not have been possible without the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into between the University of Calabar and Queen's University, Belfast on the 12th of August, 2021.

Prof. Okafor said the MOU entered into is to pursue visits by and exchange of graduate students for study and research; visits by and interchange of staff for research, teaching and discussions; exchange of information, as well as joint research activities.

The Director who said the award period is a one-year initiative covering flights to and from the UK, warm clothing allowance, monthly stipend, disability support allowance (where applicable), study travel grants, full tuition fees and research support grant, added that the recipients are expected to come back and complete their programme in the University of Calabar after the research at Belfast.

The scholarship award is worth about 34,915 Dollars exclusive of flight to and from the UK, this is even as it confers on the recipients the right to be addressed as Commonwealth Scholars.