The University of Nigeria is awash with activities marking the golden jubilee of its pioneer graduates who endured hardship and believed in the future of the Institution when many cynics called to question its viability as the first full-fledged University in Nigeria.
The anniversary is part of week-long activities, which will culminate with the 53rd founders’ day celebration on Monday 7th October, 2013.
Addressing a press conference, Tuesday, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Bartho Okolo said it was necessary to celebrate the first graduates because they bequeathed a legacy of excellence upon which the University still thrived.
“This years’ celebration – the 53rd founders’ day celebration - is unique in the sense that we are celebrating another milestone - the golden jubilee of the first graduates of the University of Nigeria.
This first generation of Lions and Lionesses, who numbered just 200 on admission and bore the registration numbers of 60/001 to 60/200, deserve a special celebration for more reasons than one.
“Firstly, they were the results of an experiment in higher education, aptly dubbed the Nsukka experiment and championed by Nigeria’s first president, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Nnamdi Azikiwe. Secondly, the circumstance of the establishment of the University of Nigeria was such that bystanders wondered what manner of graduates these men and women would turn out to be.
“It was reported that their excellent performance at the next national civil service exams was the beginning of the reputation of excellence at University of Nigeria. It is against this background that we celebrate this generation of distinguished graduates on whose shoulders our much cherished reputation first rested. We salute them! We congratulate them!! We salute them for the legacy of excellence which they bequeathed to us”, he said.
In keeping with the dream of the founding fathers of the University, Prof. Okolo said his administration had carried out an extensive rehabilitation of decrepit buildings and engaged in massive construction of new ones, including the new administration building for the Enugu Campus of the university, School of Postgraduate Studies complex, the Institute of African Studies complex, Faculties of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Law buildings, presidential guest house and 83 bed room facility for visiting scholars.
Others include: Bioprocess Physiology building, Shell CEMAC building, Centre of Excellence in Financial Studies building, Clinical Diagnostic and Wellness Centre building, Vocational Technical Education buildings, Sociology building, International Scholar building, Students’ Multipurpose Centre, among others. He said some of the buildings had been completed while others were at their various stages of completion.
To sustain the standard of scholarship at the University, the Vice-Chancellor said his administration had continued to offer automatic employment to first class graduates of the UNN and best graduating students of other reputable universities, stating that “as at the last count, over 300 of such young scholar has been hired”.
On measures taken to boost revenue, the Vice-Chancellor said that a prime property for the construction of a new liaison office and business facilities capable of generating over N2 billion annually for the University had been purchased in Lagos, while “the University Bookshop, alumni transcript portal, alumni revenue and network systems, the Clinical Diagnostic and Wellness Centre and Science Engineering and Technology Innovation Park have been developed for additional income generation.
“The University of my Vision is one with a befitting environmental ambience and adequate ultra modern infrastructure fitted with modern cutting edge teaching and research facilities. It is also a university which collaborates with many reputable universities across the world in diverse disciplines and one whose faculty and graduates can compete with their peers from across the globe”, the Vice-Chancellor maintained.
While welcoming the new governing council of the University, Prof. Okolo also thanked corporate organisations and private individuals who had contributed in diverse ways to the infrastructure facelift in the University.
Submitted by: Inya Agha, UNN.
