The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Ilorin, Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho, has confirmed that new students of the University will resume for the 2024/2025 academic session in October, saying that the new students will be drawn from a merger of those earlier admitted for the 2023/2024 session and those that participated in the just concluded 2024/2025 Post-UTME exercise.
Prof. Omotesho, who made this announcement in an interview with UNILORIN Bulletin last Thursday (August 29, 2024), stated that the proposed October resumption date will first be reviewed by the Committee of Provosts and Deans, following the standard procedure, and then submitted to the Senate for approval. Once the Senate approves, he said, the official resumption date will be announced.
While speaking on the reason for merging two sets of applicants to make an academic session, Prof. Omotesho highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), both of which lasted for about a year, saying that the two occurrences caused the University to run one session behind schedule.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor explained that “the Administration had initially proposed merging two academic sessions to address the backlog, but the 13th Council at the time suggested running the sessions concurrently. However, logistical challenges have made it clear that running two sessions simultaneously was not feasible”.
Following extensive consultations, Prof. Omotesho said that the University management has decided to cancel the 2023/24 session officially, noting that “given the logistics involved, the easiest option is to merge the two sessions. This will involve two sets of JAMB candidates, which is better addressed now because if we continue like this, we will keep carrying one set behind.” He added that the decision was aimed at streamlining the University academic calendar, to allow the new session to commence in October and restore the traditional academic cycle, where sessions begin in October and end in July.
