By; Bayo Akamo, Ibadan.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has ranked the University of Ibadan first among Nigerian universities in its latest 2015 ranking.
New Nigerian gathered that the University of Lagos came 2nd, University of Benin in the 3rd position, Obafemi Awolowo University 4th, the Ahmadu Bello University 5th position, and the University of Ilorin in the 6th position respectively.
Speaking on the latest ranking, Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka declared that the Institution was committed into ensuring that it ranked among the top five in Africa in next few years.
Prof Olayinka emphasized that the university is positioned to achieve the feat owing to its highly developed Postgraduate school with easily the largest number of Masters and Doctoral students in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Being No 1 in Nigeria and No 1 in West Africa should not be taken for granted. The real challenge is for us to be ranked among the top 5 in Africa in the next few years. This is do-able given the pedigree of Ibadan over the last 68 years. As we speak, we have perhaps the most highly developed postgraduate school, with easily the largest number of Masters and Doctorla students in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The UI school of Business has been approved by the National Universities Commission, and it is set to take off soon with her flagship MBA programme, which used to be run by our Department of Economics. The UI Research Foundation (UIRF), set up by the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Folorunso Adewole, FAS, to reposition research activities in this institution, is perhaps the first of its type in Africa,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor maintained that the board of the UIRF “is chaired by Rt Hon Uduimo Itsueli, a distinguished alumnus and Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Dubril Oil, who has committed nearly One Hundred Million Naira of his personal funds toward the construction of a befitting edifice to house the UIRF at the Ajobode Extension,” adding that the complex will be opened in the coming weeks.
Also on the NUC latest ranking, University of Jos came 7th, University of Port Harcourt 8th, University of Maiduguri 9th, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta 10th, Federal University of Technology, Owerri 12th, University of Nigeria 14th, Federal University of Technology, FUTA 15th, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, 16th, Enugu State University of Science and Technology 17th Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH 19th, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola 20th.
