'UI NEEDS SPECIAL ALLOCATION

 

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan, Adeyinka Adebayo, has said that for the institution to compete favourably with top institutions in the world, the Federal Government must commit special rehabilitation fund and increase its allocation in the next five years.

Adebayo said this at the 2014 Convocation and 66th Foundation Ceremony of the institution, held at the International Conference Centre, UI, Ibadan.

A total of 614 candidates, spread over 12 faculties, two institutes and a centre were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Medicine degrees during the event.

Adebayo said the needs of the 66-year-old institution outweighed those of a new university.

“A university that parades about 400 professors on its nominal roll and that is producing over 600 PhDs at this convocation ceremony deserves special attention in terms of infrastructure and overhead. UI is unarguably the largest producer of post-graduates in Nigeria,” Adebayo said, while also pleading for a stable academic calendar, which he described as the promoter of effective research, teaching and learning process.

“I plead that all of us, the stakeholders should ensure the continued sustenance of the peace now being enjoyed. While my appeal to the staff unions is for them to appreciate the concerns and support of the government, I wish to urge the government on its part not to renege on its promises, in view of the agreements reached at that time,” Adebayo said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Isaac Adewole, restated the aspiration of the school to transform to a post-graduate school. He said that new postgraduate programmes were being introduced not only to meet the demands of the society and industry, but also to sustain scholarship.

As part of his administration’s efforts to enhance the welfare of the students, Adewole said a work-study scheme had been introduced for all the students of the university.

He said, “The scheme is designed to provide students of the university with the opportunity to engage in part-time jobs while on their study, the student-workers are paid wages commensurate with assigned duties and responsibilities,” the VC stated.