As a child growing up, i was told that the very first University founded in Nigeria was the University of Ibadan which i swallowed hook line and sinker. It was not until recently that a vintage photograph of the revered first premier of Nigeria in the person of Nnamdi Azikwe pointing out the site where the UNN should be built surfaced online that the whole myth became busted.

Interestingly, the University of Nigeria Nsukka happens to be the very first University in Nigeria as against the University of Ibadan (UI) which is being touted as the first!

This might come as a huge shock which is understandable but let's clear the air...

"In February 1948, London University allowed Ibadan its special relationship scheme. Arthur Creech Jones, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, and an influential member of Elliot Commission, cut the first sod at the permanent site of the University College on 17 November, 1948, which thereafter became the Foundation Day.

"For the foundation medical students, the facilities provided in 1948 by the Native Administration Hospital at Adeoyo and the Government Hospital Jericho, for which the Faculty of Medicine was responsible, were inadequate. Consequently, medical students of the earlier years went to London University for clinical training.

"To provide more satisfactory clinical facilities at Ibadan, the Nigerian Government made available funds for the building of the 500-bed University Teaching Hospital which was completed in 1957. Thereafter, medical students were fully trained in Ibadan, the first batch graduating in 1960"... ... cited from UI Website www.ui.edu/uihistory

The above citation goes to show that the London University made what was known as a "training ground" in Ibadan for Medical Students who after their medical training, proceeded to London for graduation and award of their degrees until 1963 when it formally became a University.

Now down at the South East, a law to establish a University in the Eastern Region of Nigeria was passed on 18 May 1955. While that date marks the formal beginning of the history of the University of Nigeria, the enactment of this legislation by several Nigerian leaders, and inspired particularly by the then Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

One of the first steps taken by the Eastern Nigeria Government towards the implementation of its commitment was an invitation to both the United States of America and the United Kingdom to send advisers to help in the planning of physical and educational aspects of the proposed university.

Under the joint auspices of the Inter-University Council for Higher Education and Overseas and the International Co-operation Administration (now the United States Agency for International Development), J.W. Cook, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Dr John A. Hannah, President of Michigan State University and Dr Glen L. Taggart, Dean of International Programs at the same university, came to Nigeria in 1958. The team surveyed the site at Nsukka, and extensively investigated a great variety of factors pertinent to the establishment of a new university.

The results of their efforts were contained in a white paper issued by the Eastern Nigeria Government on 30 November 1958. They had recommended "that the development of the University of Nigeria based upon the concept of service to problems and needs of Nigeria, is a desirable project and one that should receive support from any source which could help to make it a sound endeavor".

They further recommended that a provisional council be established to "draw upon the technical and consultative resources available throughout the world for help in planning the institution".

The provisional council, authorized by the Eastern Nigeria Legislature, was appointed by the Governor in Council in April 1959, and given necessary financial and administrative powers to build a sound university. It reflected the spirit of international co-operation which has given birth to the institution. It consisted of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chairman, Dr. T. Olawale Elias and Dr. Okechukwu Ikejiani from the Federation of Nigeria, J.S. Fulton from the United Kingdom, Dr. Margueritue Cartwright and Dr. Eldon Lee Johnson from the United States of America.

The University was formally opened on 7 October 1960, as the climax to the Nigerian independence celebrations in the Eastern Region. Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra of Kent, representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Nigerian independence celebrations, performed the opening ceremonies and laid the foundation stone of one of the University's early buildings.

Classes began on 17 October 1960 with an enrolment of 220 students and 13 members of the academic staff. The opening convocation addresses were delivered by the Chairman of the Provisional Council, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first President of the Federation of Nigeria, and by Dr John A. Hannah, President of Michigan State University, USA.

The university was fully autonomous, with the power to grant its own degrees. Technically speaking, therefore, it became the first fully-fledged university in Nigeria, since Ibadan was still at that time a university college granting London degrees.
It also became the first university established by a Nigerian Regional Government with George Marion Johnson as Vice Chancelor from 1960 to 1964

The University College Ibadan, the oldest tertiary institution, cut its umbilical cord with London in October 1962, becoming the University of Ibadan with Kenneth Dike as the institution's fiirst Vice Chancellor from 1963 to 1967. The previous Heads of Institution of The University College Ibadan before this time were referred to as "Principals" and NOT Vice Chancellors. They were Kenneth Mellanby (Principal) - 1947 to 1953 and J. T. Saunders (Principal) - 1953 to 1956.

In July 1965, it turned out the first graduates holding Ibadan (rather than London) certificates, by which time Nsukka had produced two crops of graduates and taken all the publicity for turning out the first graduates of an autonomous Nigerian university
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded by Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has three campuses – Nsukka, Enugu, and Ituku-Ozalla – all located in Enugu State.

The University of Nigeria was the first full-fledged indigenous and first autonomous university in Nigeria, modelled upon the American educational system. It is the first land-grant university in Africa and one of the five elite universities in the country.

So when next you are told that University of Ibadan is the first university in Nigeria, politely but vehemently disagree and denounce it as we can see from historical facts that the prestigious University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) where the Academical Lions were birthed truly is the first University in Nigeria.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Nigeria,_Nsukka
www.ui.edu.ng/uihistory

SOURCE: https://web.facebook.com/AnambraOnline/posts/1591453924266203

ok

Cc: NuclearBomber, BankeSmalls, imhotep

The thing that surprised me the most, is how the Lagos-Ibadan propaganda mill was able to hoodwink the entire country for this long

Jaykolo10:

Oga why are you crying na?

prince3009:

Oga why are you crying na?

Naija matter never reach make person cry??

Jaykolo10:




Naija matter never reach make person cry??

It shall be well!

Tribalists sha!
I'm sure you people won't argue if UNN was located in Kano... Forget about the certificates issued by the institution, UI is the first university in Nigeria.

Case closed

prince3009:
Cc: NuclearBomber, BankeSmalls, imhotep

the matter is as clear as daylight
Igbo amaka

BankeSmalls:
The thing that surprised me the most, is how the Lagos-Ibadan propaganda mill was able to hoodwink the entire country for this long

It is understandable that it was so because the South West are know to be the pioneers in Nigerian Journalism. They used this as a tool for the propaganda to boost the statuesque of the South West.

fantasticone1:
Tribalists sha!
I'm sure you people won't argue if UNN was located in Kano...

If UNN was located in Kano, i am very sure the South West wouldn't have touted UI as the first university but would have let UNN retain her true status.

Forget about the certificates issued by the institution, UI is the first university in Nigeria.

Case closed

Argue that with Wikipedia and Historians