The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, has assured that he will support the University of Ibadan to remain the first and the best university in Nigeria and to reclaim its glory globally.
He gave this assurance while receiving the management team of the university led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The team was there to decorate him as UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary.
The Vice President acknowledged that UI is the greatest citadel of learning in Nigeria and West Africa. He recalled, in his days as a postgraduate student in UI, the university had students from all over Africa who came to obtain UI degrees, adding that 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, GCFR, will 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 will 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.
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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, FNPA, fspsp; the Registrar, Mr Ganiyu O. Saliu, fspsp; 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.
