50-55% UTME candidates gain admission into Nigerian universities — KDU VC

The vice chancellor of KolaDaisi University (KDU), Ibadan, Professor Adeniyi Olatunbosun, has observed that over the years, between 50 to 55 percent of candidates who sat for United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are admitted into Nigerian universities.

He noted further that “of the 1,595,773 applicants for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), 1,453,797 representing 91 percent are seeking admission into universities, while 141,970 candidates representing only nine percent are seeking admission into other institutions of learning.”

Professor Olatunbosun gave the hint while addressing the newly-admitted 2023/2024 set into the university at the 7th matriculation ceremony held at the Sherifat Agbeke hall of the institution.

Speaking about the sixth matriculation ceremony, he said a total of 366 new students were admitted through UTME, Direct Entry and transfer from other universities into the faculties of Applied Sciences, Arts, Management and Social Science, Basic Medical Sciences and Law in the range of 58, 116, 140 and 52 respectively.

While urging the newly matriculated students to shun all forms of vices, ungodly peer pressure and depraved character, he also charged them that the university had rules and regulations guiding the conduct of all students, tasking them to familiarise themselves with the regulations and abide strictly by them.

He advised the matriculates “to stand up, be on the lookout for the best, prove to us that you can and you will. Do not spend your life standing at the complaint counter. “The more you complain the less you will obtain. The person who is always finding fault seldom finds anything else. Therefore, live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.”

Speaking about the institution, he hinted that the Senate has approved the commencement of processes for the establishment of new programmes in the university.

He listed the programmes to include: B.Sc. Finance, Public Relations, Broadcasting, Film and Multimedia Studies, Criminology and Security Studies, Sociology, Social Work and Biotechnology, Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.

He stated that the process would be concluded before the commencement of the 2024/2025 academic session, saying “as part of our drive towards ensuring that all categories of people have access to quality education which is being offered by KDU. Senate has approved the commencement of part-time, top-up and degree/HND conversion programmes.”

While he congratulated the parents and guardians “for entrusting the management and staff with your wards and for your continuous support over the years,” he solicited their support in ensuring that “our students are well trained in learning and character, noting your significant role in the lives of the children.”

Delivering the convocation lecture entitled: ‘Education: a pathway to a secured future,’ Professor Falohun Adeleye Samuel, a senior lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso said education is not only a matter of intellectual makeup but also include character formation and that is why it is a policy in the higher institution that “you can only be awarded a degree only if you are found worthy in both learning and character.”

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