National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Deborah Odekola, and Olumide Olusegun, IBADAN |
The University of Ibadan (UI) has conferred degrees on 10,277 graduands across its 19 faculties during the 76th Foundation Day and Convocation ceremonies held from November 13 to 18, 2024.
A breakdown of the awards includes 6,553 Bachelor’s degrees, 111 Diplomas, 132 Postgraduate Diplomas, 26 Master of Philosophy degrees, 2,552 academic Master’s degrees, and 418 Professional Master’s degrees. Additionally, two candidates were awarded Doctor of Medicine degrees, while 483 earned Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.
Speaking at the Foundation Day event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Kayode Adebowale reaffirmed UI’s status as Nigeria’s leading university and a top institution in West Africa. He noted that the university had advanced to 7th position in Africa and the 401–500 category globally in the Times Higher Education 2024 Rankings for Clinical and Health.
“This remarkable achievement reflects the cumulative commitment to excellence by the past and current leadership, faculty, and staff of the University,” Adebowale said.
However, he identified inadequate funding as the greatest challenge facing Nigerian universities, warning against tailoring activities solely to meet ranking requirements.
“Some universities condition all their activities to suit ranking bodies, which is counterproductive. It stifles creativity, innovation, and originality,” the Vice-Chancellor cautioned.
In his address, the University’s Chancellor and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, urged the Federal Government to increase funding for tertiary education.
He emphasised that adequate investment is essential for research, innovation, and national development.
Similarly, the Pro-Chancellor, Chief Bisi Akande, represented by Dr. Nelson Alapa, advocated for mechanized farming as a strategy to attract young graduates into agriculture.
“Universities and investors should collaborate with states to establish farming villages in every local government area to encourage graduates to embrace agriculture,” he proposed.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, highlighted the need for sustainable funding strategies for universities.
He called on unions such as ASUU to partner with the government to address the peculiar challenges of the Nigerian university system.
“The incessant strikes by ASUU and other unions often revolve around funding issues. My administration has prioritised initiatives like TETFUND and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to enhance tertiary education,” Tinubu said.
He acknowledged the economic challenges inherited by his administration but assured Nigerians of ongoing efforts to stabilise the economy and improve the education sector.
“My administration inherited an economy struggling across all sectors. We have, however, managed to avert imminent bankruptcy and are making progress in critical areas,” Tinubu stated.
The convocation ceremonies celebrated the achievements of the University of Ibadan and highlighted the importance of education as a tool for national development.
