The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has assured that he will support the University of Ibadan in maintaining its position as the first and best university in Nigeria and reclaiming its global glory.

Shettima gave this assurance while receiving the management team of the university, led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The team was there to decorate him as UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary.

The Vice President acknowledged that UI is the greatest citadel of learning in Nigeria and West Africa. He recalled that, during his time as a postgraduate student at UI, the university had students from all over Africa who came to obtain UI degrees, adding that the university had produced many notable icons.

He reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to reposition Nigeria’s education sector, affirming that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will mobilise both public and private sector support to reposition higher institutions of learning, particularly the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier university.

He expressed profound delight at the honour bestowed upon him by the university, stating that he would gladly display the plaque in his office as a warm reminder of his strong affiliation with the university.

The vice chancellor had earlier disclosed that he led the special team from the university to perform the significant task commemorating the 75th anniversary of the University of Ibadan, restating that the university was established in 1948 and had turned 75 years old on 17 November 2023.

Adebowale explained that the university, through its UI@75 Committee, decided to mark the landmark anniversary by carefully selecting notable Alumni of the University who have made an invaluable impact and contributed significantly to the advancement of the cause of humanity.

He stated that the university had earlier designated many alumni as UI@75 Ambassadors while notable friends and eminent personalities who are not Alumni of the University were designated as UI@75 Ambassadors Extraordinaire.
He disclosed that the Vice President is the only alumnus of the university designated as a UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary, the highest honour conferred on an alumnus.

The Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Saliu, decorated the Vice President, on behalf of the Council, Senate, Staff, and Students of the University, and presented a plaque to the honouree.

On the Vice Chancellor’s entourage were the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba; the Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Saliu; Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi Olasope; a Faculty member, Dr Babatunde Blavo; Mr. Oladayo Olajide; and Mr. Adeniyi Adebayo of the UI Directorate of Public Communication.