Ui tasks to maintain Standard by NUC

By Sunday Saanu

National Universities Commission (NUC) has challenged Nigeria premier university, University of Ibadan (UI) to maintain its enviable academic standard , describing the 63-year old institution as the hope and flagship of post-graduate studies in the country.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie who spoke at the curriculum development workshop of Earth and Life Sciences of the Pan African University (PAU) held at UI noted since Ibadan was the flagship of post –graduate studies in Nigeria with the highest number of professors and track record of academic excellence, it is pertinent to keep up the standardâ

Okogie who was represented by the former Vice- Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof. Akaneren Essien disclosed that the NUC was determined to ensure minimum standard in all post-graduate programmes offered in Nigerian universities, hence the fight against those who attempt to be smart by half.

According to the NUC boss, we have commenced the accreditation of post-graduate programmes using the Master in Business Administration (MBA) as the pilot discipline adding, the Commission, in pursuance of its mandate has set in motion the process for the accreditation to enforce standards

Prof.
Okogie who expressed belief that there was much to be shared with the PAU team in the area of curriculum development for post-graduate programmes noted that future collaboration would go a long way in addressing some of the major challenges confronting higher education in the country.

Earlier in his address, UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole had disclosed that UI defeated other West African countries in a fierce intellectual battle to become the hub of the African Union (AU) sponsored programmes which shall attract foreign students to the premier institution as from this September.

Prof. Adewole who expressed gratitude to the Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa for her support and encouragement promised that UI would not relent in providing qualitative post- graduate training for national development, pointing out that UI produces 60 percent of all the Vice-Chancellors in Nigeria.

According to Prof. Adewole, it is on record that UI turns out the highest number of Ph.D holders in Africa yearly. We shall not relent in giving the best manpower resources to African continent as this great university is the flagship of post- graduate studies in Nigeria

The Earth and Life Sciences programmes that will commence in September include Agriculture and Forestry, Wildlife and Forestry, Botany and Microbiology, Food Technology, Zoology and Geology. Others are Petroleum Engineering, Oil and Gas, Dentistry, Nutrition and Dietetics as well as Medicine and surgery.

The curriculum development workshop which attracted various international and local experts in different disciplines was organized to give international flavor and local needs to the programmes sponsored by the Pan African University of African Union.

Meanwhile, Prof. Matthew Oluwole Abatan has been appointed as the Acting Director of the PAU programme.