A Brief Overview of the Premier University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan recently released its academic calendar for the 2021/2022 academic session, directing students to resume on 30th January 2022. At Campus News, we took a moment to look through the standards of the university as students prepare for the new academic session.
For consecutive times now, the University of Ibadan has been rated as the best university, and is well recognized and acknowledged outside the country as one of the largest, and most importantly, prestigious universities. Since 1948, the university has consistently brought good fortunes to the country in people, activities (research), and laurels.
Well known to build students to their full potential by encouraging self-directed learning through regular class presentations, term papers, seminars and quality research work, students of the University of Ibadan can tap into the wealth of knowledge in their field on their own. This has over time, increased students exposure to knowledge, and their ability to stand on their own, and also stand out in society.
For years now, the university has produced intelligent students, sound in learning and character. Scholars from UI have been able to influence several sectors in the country (Nigeria), and even overseas. Just recently, one of her alumni, our very own Zikite, emerged as one of the finalists at the 2021 Earthshotprize in the “fix our climate category”. This and many more accolades are consistently associated with the University of Ibadan.
In addition, the school curriculum exposes the students to a wide range of studies that increase their skills and knowledge in their various fields. One of which is the entrepreneurial course that is taken by all students at the University of Ibadan. An average student can apply the knowledge acquired from the entrepreneurial and management courses in their everyday life.
On the other side, the University of Ibadan has several challenges of which funding of facilities is inclusive. Although the University is vast in theories and alternatives to practical, she has lagged in the use of ultra-modern facilities needed for technology advancement in some faculties.
Yearly, the number of aspirants the University records increases, however, the number of students admitted to the school is low compared to the number of applicants. This can be attributed to poor funding of halls of residence facilities and other facilities needed for effective learning as the halls of residence can only accommodate 30% of the regular student population.
In addition, the school is not exactly remarkable in providing grants and scholarships to highly exceptional students; at least from publicly available knowledge.
One way we believe the university can balance these excesses, of which financing is a big part, is by engaging her alumni body in all faculties effectively and “systematically” enough to support in providing scholarship and grants for highly exceptional students.
International schools which the University of Ibadan currently draws shoulders with are exceptional at this. We can leverage our give-back culture which would, in the end, create a cycle of continuously increasing responsibility from alumni who in one way benefited from these give-back schemes as students.
Highly established graduates of the school in various sectors of the country, if systematically organised could be encouraged to support the university in donations/grants to fund research and other impactful projects. The keyword is a transparent and systematic approach that leverages the alumni body to give back.
If the University of Ibadan will maintain its high standards and reputation, considering the ever-increasing standards of rating, the Federal Government of Nigeria should consider increasing the amount of money given to the school yearly.
Glancing through the recent ratings by the Nigeria University Commission (NUC), and the several achievements of the University of Ibadan, we are not quick to judge the excitement of the Freshmen, we are not quick to judge the pride that surrounds being affiliated with the Premier University of Ibadan.
So in quick words,
