The New Telegraph, one of Nigeria’s leading newspaper outfits, has named the University of Ilorin as “Nigerian University of Choice for the Year 2023”. This was contained in a nomination letter dated January 3, 2024, which was signed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the media establishment, Mr Aminu Ayodele, and addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN.
In the letter, a copy of which was sighted by UNILORIN BULLETIN, Mr Ayodele explained that the award is premised on the continuous recognition of the University of Ilorin as the nation’s most subscribed institution of higher learning in the last one decade, a position also authenticated by the records of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The award would be formally presented to the University on Friday, February 2, 2023 in Lagos at an event tagged “New Telegraph 2023 Awards ceremony”.
The Managing Director also asserted that the University of Ilorin was also found to be worthy of the prestigious award because four of its Faculties and 11 courses offered at the institution were ranked among the world best by the Times Higher Education last year.
He added that the production of four academic staff listed among 2% of top scientists from Nigeria ranked among top- notch researchers worldwide also accounted for the recognition
Also enumerated among the reasons the Better By Far University was found worthy of the prestigious award was the feat recorded by a Professor at the institution’s Department of Ophthalmology, Dupe Ademola-
Popoola, who pioneered the treatment of cancer of the eye in Nigeria as well as the production of 10 law graduates who bagged First Class at the 2023 Bar Final Exams of the Nigerian Law School and for the fact that the reigning best graduating student of the Nigerian Law School, Mary Omotayo Dada, is also a product of the University of Ilorin.
Reacting to the development, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, said that the management, staff and students of the University heartily welcomed the award.
In a statement signed by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, the Vice Chancellor said that he was delighted that the University was beginning the New Year with an award of excellence from a reputable organisation. Prof. Egbewole explained that he was not surprised by the award as he said that the University has always been doing very well in the discharge of its responsibilities.
The Vice Chancellor thanked the “New Telegraph” for recognising the contributions of the University of Ilorin to national progress and human capital development as well as its exceptional attributes with the award. He noted that the award would spur him and other UNILORITES to work towards greater excellence.
Prof. Egbewole similarly thanked the staff and students of the University for supporting his administration in its efforts at sustaining the enviable feats of the University not only at national but also at global level, saying that the award is made possible by the contributions of all.
The Vice Chancellor assured the institution’s stakeholders that the University, under his leadership, would continue to make them proud by being the best it could.
