The rise and rise of Unilorin
Is there a better testament to University of Ilorin's
unrelenting drive for excellence than its latest ranking as the
best University in Nigeria? Is there any better proof of the
University's commitment to uplifting the nation's sliding
academic standard than its stable academic calendar that
has never been interrupted by any form of frivolous
workers' strike since the past 12 years or so? Indeed, is there
any better demonstration of a Nigerian institution's
readiness to pull the country out of the morass of wonky
standards into which education in the so-called giant of
Africa has sunk, than Unilorin's ranking as one of the 20 best
universities in Africa?
By every standard, the latest ranking of world universities by
International Colleges and Universities search engine
(4icu.ng), which returned the University of Ilorin as the best
University in Nigeria, is the most convincing proof yet of our
ever rising profile. In its 2014 University Web Ranking
released penultimate Tuesday (July 29, 2014), 4ICU also
adjudged Unilorin as the 20th best university in Africa and
1842nd in the world! For the latest exercise, it ranked about
11, 307 accredited universities by web popularity in over 200
countries. This is not Unilorin's first outing on the
recognition dais. Over the years, the University has proved
to be a centre of academic excellence. For three consecutive
years, another international university ranking agency, the
Web of World Universities (Webometric), had ranked our
University the best in Nigeria in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
In the 2014 University Web Ranking, the University of Lagos
placed second in Nigeria and 21st in Africa while the third
position went to Obafemi Awolowo University, which also
came 26th in Africa.
To keen watchers of the University of Ilorin, who have
consistently followed the single-minded commitment of our
management, staff and students to excellence, the new
ranking is not entirely a surprise. Indeed, many people,
from national policy makers to high net-worth public
commentators and independent observers, parents and
admission seekers are unanimous in their assessment of
Unilorin as the veritable “best of the rest” citadel of learning
in Nigeria.
To be sure, the new ranking is consistent with the rising
profile of the University in the past few years. Since 2011,
she has maintained a steady presence among most
preferred education institutions by prospective students.
According to statistics obtained from the National
Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions
and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Unilorin was the 8th most
preferred university by admission seekers in 2011; 5th in
2012; 2nd in 2013 and 1st this year. After the last Unified
Tertiary Institutions Matriculations Examination (UTME),
JAMB/NUC statistics showed that the University of Ilorin was
the most subscribed university in the country with a total of
over 105,000 candidates seeking to enter the University in
the 2014/2015 academic session. The University of Benin,
Benin City came a distant second in this respect with about
76,000 admission seekers.
Our new ranking has also confirmed so many superlative
assessments of the University in the recent past by
personalities like President Goodluck Jonathan, members of
the National Assembly, the Coordinating Minister of the
Economy and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; as
well as the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General
of the Federation, Judge Bola Ajibola.
During the 29th Convocation ceremonies of the University
last October, President Jonathan, obviously impressed by
the University's “stable and uninterrupted academic
calendar for several years now”, attested to the fact that
“this positive step, which has been the hallmark of this
institution, has brought notable achievements to the
University in all spheres of its endeavour.”
Before then, in June last year, members of the Senate and
House of Representatives' Committees on Education, during
their separate oversight visits to the University, spoke
glowingly of the University's giant strides, describing the
institution's stable academic calendar as “a great feat that
should be emulated by all universities in Nigeria.”
And in mid-May this year, during the flag-off of the
University's oil palm plantation and distribution of PC tablets
to students, Dr Okonjo-Iweala extolled the ingenuity of the
University of Ilorin, saying the institution is “100 paces”
ahead of other universities in the country.
Also, in April this year during a visit to the University, a
former judge at the International Court of Justice, The
Hague, Prince Bola Ajibola, described the University as “the
first on the list in Nigeria in terms of everything”, adding that
the nation is always looking forward to the University's
performance. “You are the pride of Nigeria”, Prince Ajibola
added.
It could also be recalled that for two concurrent editions of
the NUDTAS Awards, the University of Ilorin showed
unprecedented class by winning three of the 17 available
awards in 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 respectively, leaving the
more than 120 other public universities in the country to
scramble for the remaining 14!
For this latest recognition of the University's pace-setting
status, Town & Gown congratulates our amiable Vice-
Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali; his wonderful
management team, all academic and non-academic staff
members and the entire student body. For, this rise and rise
of the better by far University wouldn't have been possible
without the cooperation of all.
And in mid-May this year, during the flag-off of the
University's oil palm plantation and distribution of PC tablets
to students, Dr Okonjo-Iweala extolled the ingenuity of the
University of Ilorin, saying the institution is “100 paces”
ahead of other universities in the country.
Also, in April this year during a visit to the University, a
former judge at the International Court of Justice, The
Hague, Prince Bola Ajibola, described the University as “the
first on the list in Nigeria in terms of everything”, adding that
the nation is always looking forward to the University's
performance. “You are the pride of Nigeria”, Prince Ajibola
added.
It could also be recalled that for two concurrent editions of
the NUDTAS Awards, the University of Ilorin showed
unprecedented class by winning three of the 17 available
awards in 2008/2009 and 2010/2011 respectively, leaving the
more than 120 other public universities in the country to
scramble for the remaining 14!
For this latest recognition of the University's pace-setting
status, Town & Gown congratulates our amiable Vice-
Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali; his wonderful
management team, all academic and non-academic staff
members and the entire student body. For, this rise and rise
of the better by far University wouldn't have been possible
without the cooperation of all.

better by far far.