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 First University In Nigeria: "Separating Fact From Fable".


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

Good.

There are two universities in Nigeria. University of Nigeria Nsukka and the others.
Apologies.

Where are the sophisticated liars from the SW to come defend their lies

na we dey here

0monnak0da:
Mynd44 kindly shut down this thread please.

Thank You

As my boy I know you won't disobey me

Why do you want it shut down? You want to kill the truth?

0monnak0da:
Mynd44 kindly shut down this thread please.

Thank You

As my boy I know you won't disobey me

Was NTA Ibadan not the first TV station in the world?

The first Television was produced in Molete, Ibadan by one juju man, Olawalle

BankeSmalls:


Was NTA Ibadan not the first TV station in the world?

I no know book o

Please note...this thread was not created to spite the yorubas but to just place the truth in it's rightful place for future generations.

It is also worthy to note that both institutions have contributed immensely in the reformation of the scholars and students who passed through them in their own peculiar way and have has notable personalities graduating from them. But like i said, it was only created to reveal the distorted facts.

Haba, so you people are this tribalistic. University college of Ibadan ( established in 1948) was formally known as Yaba college ( established in 1932).
But UNN was established in 1955...

Abeg read your history very well

Stop arguing with yourself how many Yoruba that have commented on your poo write up.

prince3009:
Please note...this thread was not created to spite the yorubas but to just place the truth in it's rightful place for future generations.

It is also worthy to note that both institutions have contributed immensely in the reformation of the scholars and students who passed through them in their own peculiar way and have has notable personalities graduating from them. But like i said, it was only created to reveal the distorted facts.

Oh well.. Am I supposed to be joyous because UNN was established before UniIbadan

Because I honestly don't give a flying fvck even if Nebuchadnezzar spent some time in a zoo in ABU Zaria while being punished

I have always known that my school (B.Eng UNN) is the first independent and INDIGENOUS university in Nigeria.

However, my school (MSC UI) is the first tertiary institution

UNN was the first university in Nigeria, having its own senate, its own degrees and statutory laws.

UI was the first degree awarding institution in Nigeria via London University.

There are many degree awarding institutions today that are not universities. E.g YABATECH which award B Tech degrees via FUTA and BSc. (Ed) via UNN

suck it up haters.

ofai:
UNN was the first university in Nigeria, having its own senate, its own degrees and statutory laws.

UI was the first degree awarding institution in Nigeria via London University.

There are many degree awarding institutions today that are not universities. E.g YABATECH which award B Tech degrees via FUTA and BSc. (Ed) via UNN

suck it up haters.

So a degree awarding "university" whose certificate does not bear the name of the host country solely but depends on its parent country for nomenclature, will you claim it's a Nigerian owned university?

Angelawhite:


So a degree awarding "university" whose certificate does not bear the name of the host country solely but depends on its parent country for nomenclature, will you claim it's a Nigerian owned university?

UI became UI in 1962, not 1948.

Before then it was a colonial outpost of London university, thus being name a University College. But it had no power to be recognized as a university of its own because it had not law establishing it as one.

If you know the laws establishing or recognizing a university, you won't even debate this. That is why UNN is given the honour of bearing the name Nigeria and bear the colours of green and white.

ofai:


UI became UI in 1962, not 1948.

Before then it was a colonial outpost of London university, thus being name a University College. But it had no power to be recognized as a university of its own because it had not law establishing it as one.

If you know the laws establishing or recognizing a university, you won't even debate this. That is why UNN is given the honour of bearing the name Nigeria and bear the colours of green and white.

I think you quoted the wrong person

Lipscomb:
Stop arguing with yourself how many Yoruba that have commented on your poo write up.

People like you resort to abusive words when told the naked truth! It's no surprise

Angelawhite:


I think you quoted the wrong person

Oh.... It was your response to my mention that made me respond accordingly.

So you actually responded to the wrong person initially dear

Angelawhite:
I have always known that my school (B.Eng UNN) is the first independent and INDIGENOUS university in Nigeria.

However, my school (MSC UI) is the first tertiary institution

Ehm.... Sorry YABATECH is actually the first tertiary institution (1947) while UCI (1948) was the first degree awarding institution. UI was later established in 1962.

prince3009:


People like you resort to abusive words when told the naked truth! It's no surprise

whatever.just stop looking for attention.

Lipscomb:
whatever.just stop looking for attention.

Oops...from the looks of it, you are the one looking for attention. Now would you please go to sleep and stop derailing my fact-finding thread

you people should just let this matter rest.this is d third thread that's been open on Dis same issue.1st or 2nd,what matters most is how well and not how far

Angelawhite:
I have always known that my school (B.Eng UNN) is the first independent and INDIGENOUS university in Nigeria.

However, my school (MSC UI) is the first tertiary institution

Clap for your self.

Na wa o. Y are these igbos so desperate? What exactly will this thread achieve? It's a known fact all over the world that UI is the First and the Best University in Nigeria. Is it paining you that much?

blessedvisky:
Na wa o. Y are these igbos so desperate? What exactly will this thread achieve? It's a known fact all over the world that UI is the First and the Best University in Nigeria. Is it paining you that much?

Others are showing facts and citation from wikipedia and you're here wailing like a 7 year old without presenting any fact

Inferiority complex and chest-beating won't kill you people..

Even the University of al-Qarawiyyin of Morocco, which is popularly referred to as the oldest, continually existing university in the world, started off in 859 as a mosque with a formal arrangement for Arabic studies. And notably, the year '859' is still widely regarded as the year the school kicked off operations even by Guinness World Record.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Al_Quaraouiyine


Just another attempt at massaging your bruised ego and competing with the Yorubas. Candidly, this is a pathetic way to live and compete.

UI was established in 1948 fact UNN was established in 1960 whether UI started as a nursery doesn't matter, what matters is UI was producing graduates long before UNN.

ofai:


Ehm.... Sorry YABATECH is actually the first tertiary institution (1947) while UCI (1948) was the first degree awarding institution. UI was later established in 1962.

UI did not award degrees until 1962 when it was established. This was 2 years later after UNN kicked off as a full-fledged university.

Sard:

Inferiority complex and chest-beating won't kill you people..

Even the University of al-Qarawiyyin of Morocco, which is popularly referred to as the oldest, continually existing university in the world, started off in 859 as a mosque with a formal arrangement for Arabic studies. And notably, the year '859' is still widely regarded as the year the school kicked off operations even by Guinness World Record.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Al_Quaraouiyine


Just another attempt at massaging your bruised ego and compete with the Yorubas. Candidly, this is a pathetic way to live and compete.

Please channel your vituperations and arguments to Wikipedia.