The philosophy of the University of Calabar is to:
(a) create a citizenry imbued with a high sense of duty and responsibility to the Nigerian Nation with character development receiving as much attention as academics.
(b) establish a conducive campus atmosphere for the cultivation of healthy social interactions among groups from all parts of Nigeria and elsewhere.
(c) make conscious use of local materials for instructional purposes in an effort to make her programme relevant to the needs of Nigeria.