These are qualified members of staff in Visual Arts And Technology (VAT), Unicross.
Umana Ginigeme Nnochiri graduated from the University of Uyo with a B.A. (Hons) in Fine Arts (Textiles) and an MA in Art Education (Textiles). She lectures at the Department of Visual Arts and Technology (CRUTECH), Calabar, and is an active textile and fashion designer. Umana is a student at the University of Port Harcourt pursuing a PhD in textiles and fashion design. She works as a costume consultant for the annual Calabar Carnival. She has written research articles and published them in books and academic publications. She belongs to the AFAA, or Association of Female Artists in Academics.
Nkami-Eval Nelson Elemi is from Itigidi, Cross River State. She has MFA in Graphic Design from the Department of Visual Arts and Technology, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria. At the moment, she is undertaking a PhD in Visual Anthropology at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain. Her skills includes Visual Design, Packaging Design, Printmaking and Visual Anthropology.
As an academic, she has her research interest in the sociocultural appropriateness of textbook illustrations used in teaching nursery and primary school pupils in Nigeria. Her publications include but not limited to "The Importance of Visual Illustrations in Recommended Primary and Secondary Textbooks in Calabar" (2012), published in the International Journal of Educational and Social Research; "The Importance of Relevant Visual Illustrations in Recommended Art text Books" (2013), published in Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies; and "Factors that Inhibit Graphics Students in the Department of Visual Arts and Technology" (2014), published in Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology.
Justin Akongmaye Obong took a BA (Hons) in Fine and Industrial Arts (Graphics Arts and Design) at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria and followed by a M.A Ed (Graphics Arts and Design. He has been in the Department of Visual Arts and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Calabar Campus, Cross River State Nigeria.
He has had vast experience in the media sector both in corporate and private level before joining the department of Visual Arts and Technology in 2005, hence his interest in contemporary practice in graphics design and teaching with modern technology. He has been teaching courses in Two Dimensional Design, Typography and Illustration, Advance Communication Graphics, Computer Graphics Design, and Art in Elementary Education in The Department of Education Foundation, Faculty of Education, Publishing in the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication Technology.
In His stay at the university, he has had time to work widely with other great academics in the same field and with students to support, curriculum development and teaching practice. Research interests of Justin Obong's main areas of research is in Advertising Design, Digital photography and Animation, which is being conceptualized to be focused on African traditional colours and design ranging from costumes to body and wall decorations with particular interest in the rich cultural heritage of some part of Cross River State, Nigeria. As well, he welcomes research proposals on colour and costume designs in African art.
Okon E. Ayi attended school in Lagos State for his primary and secondary studies. He holds a Diploma in Creative Art from the University of Lagos, a BA (Painting) from Cross River University of Technology, and MFA (Painting) at Cross River University of Technology. He has completed numerous painting commissions and taken part in a number of art exhibitions.
He is a remarkable individual who is actively involved in the Nigerian art scene. Okon Ayi is a member of the esteemed Nigeria Society of Art and has dedicated his time to various community service initiatives. With a PhD in progress, Mr. Aji E. Okon has made significant contributions to the art field through several publications, both locally and internationally. He regularly conducts workshops, sharing his knowledge within and outside the state. Additionally, he serves as an exam officer and timetable officer, showcasing his organizational skills. As an artist, Mr. Ayi's talent shines through his carnival work, where he designed costumes for the acclaimed Freedom band, earning them the first position.