17th March, 2016
GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN
Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, (UI), Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka has disclosed that out of the 50,000 applications received by the institution from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), only 4,008 students were admitted for the 2015/2016 session. This is a great departure from the tradition of the institution has it is noted for admitting at least 3000 students.
The Vice Chancellor who disclosed this Thursday at the matriculation ceremony held at the institution’s International Conference Centre (ICC), said that out of 23,219 students that made 200 and above that were invited for Post-UTME, 19,292 sat for the exam out of which 3,225 were given admission, adding that an additional 783 admitted were from 2,512 applications received from direct entry candidates.
Breaking it down, he said, “Those that made the institution first and second choice with score 180 and above were 32,587. Those that made it first and second choice with score 200 and above invited for Post-UTME were 23,219. Candidates who sat for the Post-UTME were 19,292 and candidates that were cleared for admission were 3,225. 2,512 applied through Direct entry and those offered admission were 783.”
According to him, “a breakdown of the undergraduate admission on a faculty-by-faculty basis are: Agriculture and Forestry 408, Arts 618, Medicine 550, Education 784, Law 147, Pharmacy 90, Science 571, Technology 369, The Social Sciences 351, and Veterinary Medicine 120, totaling, 4,008”.
The Vice Chancellor further disclosed that at the last academic session, a total number of 80 students have been compulsorily withdrawn from the university due to poor academic performance breaking it down: Arts 13, Sciences 28, Basic Medical Sciences 1, Public Health, 1, Agriculture and Forestry 20, Social Sciences 6, Education 4, Technology 5, and Veterinary Medicine 2.
He noted that other reasons students could lose their studentship includes: examination misconduct, unruly behavior, indecent behavior, vandalism, miscellaneous hall offences, unauthorized use/displacement/damage to university property, pilfering, insubordination, direct sale of bed space/squatting in halls of residence, membership of secret cult(s) on campus, illegal participation in the National Youth Service Programme, illegal registration as full-time student, and infringement of other university regulations.
He added, “Any of the under-listed is a criminal offence which must be referred to the Police: fraud, theft, burglary, assault occasioning bodily harm, murder, membership of a secret cult inside or outside campus, possession of fire-arms, arson, rape, possession and/or use of hard drug and drug trafficking and other criminal offences”.
Olayinka pointed out that the new students who were tasting freedom for the first time should know that freedom is not absolute stressing, “Those of you who are leaving home for the first time would realize that you are now exposed to enjoy a measure of freedom, which you may not have enjoyed before, as you are no longer under the watchful eyes of your parents. This freedom, however, has its limitations. In other words, your freedom ends at the point where you trample on the fundamental human right of others, or when you infringe on the rules and regulations of the University”.
Urging the new students to be studious, he said, “Let me inform you that at the University of Ibadan, we do not tell students what to think. You have to learn to think for yourselves. Our teaching is designed to produce intellectual self-reliance-to teach you how to learn and how to take charge of your thinking. We encourage you to be independent in your judgment and critical in your analysis. We work to help you develop these skills here at UI, and we hope you will retain them for life. They will continue to serve you as you experience a world that is constantly and rapidly changing. I, therefore, want to charge you not to restrict yourselves to your field of study alone so as to profit maximally from the numerous activities that will be presented to you throughout the duration of your course in the university”.
He warned the students to comport themselves in a manner that is befitting of an undergraduate student and or new postgraduate student of this premier institution, as the university would not tolerate any act of hooliganism and wanton destruction of properties – all in the name of students’ demonstration, indecent dressing, prostitution and or any other social vices”.
Olayinka also warned students against cultism and sexual harassment adding, “Cultism by all estimation is evil and those who associate themselves with it are also evil. For this reason, you should not go into any relationship without thorough investigation. The approach employed is that the cultists camouflage in different colors to recruit members. You should live a modest life and avoid flaunting your financial disposition in public, as this is a veritable attraction to the hoodlums who engage in cultism”.
On sexual harassment, Olayinka said, “Female students should avoid walking alone in isolated areas, especially at night. In fact, let me inform you that the university has a Sexual Harassment policy and a Gender Policy. I want to also advise you to go through these documents which are available on the university web site and at the University Gender Mainstreaming Office. Please report any act of sexual harassment against you at this office. Should you have any inclination that you are being lured or being harassed, do not hesitate to speak out. This is the only way by which you can release yourself from the bondage of the oppressors or cultists because your silence under such harassment will be a serious distortion to your human person and by extension, your academic studies. To this end, you should promptly approach the Director of the Centre for Social Orientation (CenSO), or any other member of the Committee whose names can be obtained from the Students Affairs Division. You may also seek assistance from the Dean of Students, Hall Wardens, your Head of Department or even the Dean of your Faculty. You should not rely on the advice of your friends on such a serious matter as this but rather consult the relevant officers for counseling and assistance”.