UI @ 70: Seven decades of premier education

University of Ibadan, the fountain-head of true learning, deep and sound knowledge birthed in Nigeria on 18 January 1948 when the first set of students, 104 of them, received lectures at the University College Ibadan, at the Eleyele Temporary Site, previously used by the Military during the Second World War. While the pioneer Faculties were Arts, Science and Medicine, UI first sod was turned on 17 November 1948 by Sir Arthur Creech Jones, then Secretary of State for the Colonies and that day has become the Founders’ Day. UI’s development trajectories and the challenges that it confront are both functions of colonial tutorship and postcolonial power-play and mal-administration of Nigerian leaders which brought in lack of sustenance of inherited cultures of quality staff recruitment and inability to attract foreign scholars and ensure conducive studying and teaching environments. Today UI needs: special intervention fund to upgrade facilities (laboratories, campus utilities) and conduct cutting edge researches to drive development; recruitment of more academic staff to be able to increase access to average of about 50,000 candidates who apply yearly out of which only 3,800 got admitted in 2018. In congratulating greatest UITES at home and in the Diaspora, it is important to burrow into the glorious beginning, the years of dislocation and dispersals and the resurgence of UI back to reckoning as a knowledge hub.

Seven decades after, UI has thirteen faculties, 30,000 regular students (undergraduate and postgraduate) and 10,000 in her leading Distance Learning Center. However, to teach these students are about 1,500 lecturers since the federal government would not recruit. Despite manpower shortage, it takes leadership in postgraduate training in Nigeria and Africa attracting over 200 international students. The facilities are over-stretched and the working and studying environment for staff and students is not yet fully world class. But with a strong willed spirit of the 12th Vice Chancellor, Prof Idowu Olayinka, UI has agenda for the accelerated development through consolidation and innovation. Under him, UI reappeared on the global ranking among the first 1,000 varsities. To improve its ranking globally and maintain its relevance in teaching, research and community service, President Muhammadu Buhari government and the National Assembly should allocate special funding to UI. Through this, infrastructure expansion and quality staff recruitment and training can be actualised. Despite the aggressive competition from late-arrival varsities, UI remains the first and the best in the country and a global brand providing soothing spring for all those thirsty for quality education and raising true minds for a noble cause.

Dr. Oludayo Tade, Ibadan.