Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan has offered some insights into the recently conducted Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) test by the institution saying that students do not need to know anybody before they secure admission into UI.
He also announced that the 2017/18 admission process would be concluded soon.
Contrary to insinuations in some quarters that the test was too tough and that science candidates were not allowed to use calculator which was allegedly responsible for failure of many, Prof. Olayinka disclosed that the highest score in the test was 86 from a medical candidate, while a candidate each from Law and Electrical and Electronic department respectively equally posted impressive performances.
Speaking on “Diamond 101.1 FM Radio” to mark the 9th anniversary of the UI-owned radio station, the VC who hinted that 9,266 candidates, representing 44.2% scored 50 and above in the test, out of 20,949 candidates who sat for the test, remarked that the test was to assist the university in admitting the best out of the best candidates.
Prof. Olayinka who asserted that not all of those writing the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination (JAMB) and Post-UTME test were university materials, advocated the resuscitation of Technical Institutes for those who may not be able to cope with the pressure of university education.
According to him, “while federal universities which are the cheapest in the country are grappling with the overwhelming number of applicants, all the polytechnic institutions in Nigeria do not have up to 20,000 applicants”
He promised that UI would be fair to every applicant in selecting the 3,500 that the system could accommodate, pointing out that “you don’t need to know anybody before being admitted once you meet all the requirements .
On his performance in office in the last 23 months, Prof. Olayinka who thanked the university community for the support and understanding given so far, recalled that poor funding was responsible for the initial crises bedeviling the university at the early stage of his administration, stressing that, “now, the students and staff have come to understand that I am transparent enough to be trusted, because this regime has always been laying every card on the table”
“Crises have a way of de-marketing our reputation because we lose heavily in terms of stable academic calendar. Now, our Law graduates cannot go to Law School. This session is going to end around March next year. Whereas, we ought to have concluded the session before then. It is our prayer that we don’t experience strike actions again”, he stated.
The VC commended the workers at the Radio Station for discharging their duties competently, urging them not to rest on their oars, but to keep striving towards better and improved quality service delivery to the university community.
Packaged by Mariam Azeez
