The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has assured the University of Ibadan of his support for it to remain the first and the best university in Nigeria, as well as sustain its glory globally.
He gave this assurance while receiving the management team of the university, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The team was there to decorate VP Shettima as UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary.
The Vice President acknowledged UI as being the greatest citadel of learning in Nigeria and West Africa, recalling his days as a postgraduate student in UI which had students from all over Africa to obtain UI degrees.
He also spoke of how the university has produced many icons.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s unfaltering decision to reposition Nigeria’s education sector, affirming that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would mobilise both public and private sector support to reposition higher institutions of learning, particularly the University of Ibadan, being Nigeria’s premier university.
He expressed profound delight at the honour bestowed on him by the university, stating that he would gladly display the plaque in his office as a warm reminder of his staunch affiliation to the university.
The Vice Chancellor had earlier disclosed that he led the special team from the university to perform the significant task which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the University of Ibadan, restating that the university was established in 1948 and had turned 75 years on 17 November, 2023.
Professor Adebowale explained that the University, through its UI@75 Committee, decided to mark the landmark anniversary by carefully selecting notable Alumni of the University who have made invaluable impact and contributed significantly to the advancement of the cause of humanity.
He stated that the University had earlier designated many alumni as UI@75 Ambassadors while notable friends and eminent personalities who are not Alumni of the University were designated as UI@75 Ambassadors Extraordinaire.
He disclosed that the Vice President is the only alumnus of the university designated as
UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary, the highest alumnus honour conferred.
The Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu O. Saliu, decorated the Vice President, on behalf of Council, Senate, Staff, and Students of the University, and presented a plaque to the honouree.
On the Vice Chancellor’s entourage were the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Peter O. Olapegba; the Registrar, Mr Ganiyu O. Saliu; Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi Olasope; a Faculty member, Dr Babatunde Blavo; Mr Oladayo Olajide; and Mr Adeniyi Adebayo of the UI Directorate of Public Communication.
