The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Kayode Adebowale, FAS, mni, has advised freshmen of the institution to maintain a track record of excellence by standing on the shoulders of giants that have once walked the path of the University of Ibadan to greater heights.
He gave the advice at the matriculation ceremony of 3,940 fresh students for the 2020/2021 academic session on Tuesday at the institution’s International Conference Centre, Ibadan.
Prof. Adebowale remarked that it was important for the new students to walk the path of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the University of Ibadan, in the likes of Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, S. Tunde Bajah, Adetowun Ogunsheye, among others, and make good use of the available opportunities and the efforts of the management to see beyond their predecessors and achieve greater heights.
He said the university has the resources, in terms of experienced faculty members who have carved niches for themselves, respected scholars and facilities available in libraries, to lead them on the path to greater heights.
Prof. Adebowale said the fresh students can achieve the bar of academic excellence, morality and proper conduct, and service to humanity by sharing similar values with the giants. These values, according to him, will enable them to make consistent efforts to achieve their set goals, and compete with one another.
He said matriculation symbolises a state of dependence in learning, reasoning and growing into adulthood. A state to put on a thinking cap and take personal decisions that will result in glowing characters, and promote societal values.
He further submitted that as students of the University of Ibadan, they would be required to meet a high level of expectation from the society, saying, “if it is from UI, it is of the best quality possible.”
He revealed that it was through a rigorous and transparent admission process that UI admitted this set, the best of the best. This he further explained with statistics that showed that only 6.7% of over 63,000 applicants who applied to study in the University of Ibadan were offered admission.
The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that the university will continue to make concerted effort to make university life both memorable and productive in terms of accommodation, health service, internet service, library facility, and security.
The Matriculation Lecturer, Miss Ifeoluwa Olatayo, Founder Soupah Kitchen (Alumna 2012) had called on the fresh students to pursue excellence from their first year in school by making effort to read, at least 2-3 hours daily, for comprehension and good grades.
She noted that though the journey may not be smooth, they should endeavour to seek help from friends and senior colleagues, and join study groups, for this will enhance their reading capacity.
“Get to know people who express high social, academic, and personal values that align with yours,” she said.
She encouraged them to choose the group(s) that will sharpen their horizon and place them where they are aiming at. “…I joined the University Entrepreneurship and Innovation Society and because I didn’t hold myself back, I found life purpose,” she added.
Miss Olatayo charged the fresh students to face their studies and excel, and not see education as a scam. ‘The essence of education… is deeply rooted in the last lines of the University anthem “For a mind that knows is a mind that is free,”’ she stated.
The highlight of the matriculation ceremony was the administration of the Matriculation Oath to the students by the Registrar, Mrs. Olubunmi O. Faluyi, MCIPM.
