In what has been described as a historic academic feat, six graduates from the Faculty of Law, Imo State University (IMSU) have emerged with First Class honors in the recently released November 2024 Bar Part II examination results by the Nigerian Law School.

The distinguished students—Ekwereike Sunshine, Mezu Ifeanyi, Aretola Ade Daniel, Duru Vera, Iwuoha Amarachi and Obijiaku Precious—have etched their names in gold, not just for themselves but for their alma mater and Imo State at large, as IMSU takes the lead with the highest number of First Class graduates from a single institution.

This outstanding achievement has drawn widespread commendation for the #PeoplesGovernor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, whose administration has continued to demonstrate unwavering commitment to educational development and youth empowerment in the state.

Observers and stakeholders in the education sector have attributed this success to Governor Uzodimma’s consistent financial support to state-owned institutions and his visionary leadership, which has ensured a conducive learning environment and the provision of critical infrastructure and resources for academic excellence.

Under Governor Uzodimma’s watch, Imo State University has seen massive improvements in academic standards, welfare of lecturers, and student empowerment programs. This has evidently translated to global competitiveness for IMSU students and graduates, as reflected in their recent success at the prestigious Nigerian Law School.

Education analysts describe this record-setting performance as a product of deliberate investment and strategic policies of the Uzodimma-led administration, which continues to prioritize human capital development as a core component of the 3R agenda.

With this feat, Imo State has once again reinforced its position as a citadel of academic excellence in Nigeria, thanks to the foresight and support of Governor Hope Uzodimma—a true champion of the Imo youth.

As congratulatory messages pour in from across the country, the achievements of these six young legal scholars remain a beacon of what is possible when visionary leadership meets academic dedication.

The University of Ibadan (UI), has officially matriculated 4,215 students into its undergraduate programmes for the 2024/2025 academic session.

The matriculation ceremony took place at the university’s International Conference Centre on Wednesday, where the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, addressed the new students, urging them to pursue excellence and uphold the university’s legacy of integrity and discipline.

“Strive for excellence, demonstrate good character and discipline, leverage available opportunities, engage in community service, uphold integrity, and avoid plagiarism and exam malpractice,” he charged.

Providing insights into the admission process, Professor Adebowale described the admitted students as the “champions of the champions,” highlighting the competitive nature of gaining admission into Nigeria’s premier university.

“Nearly 22,000 candidates applied to the University of Ibadan through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), including both UTME and Direct Entry applicants from within and outside the country,” he revealed.

He further explained that 11,912 candidates met the required 200-point UTME threshold and sat for the university’s Post-UTME screening.

“Of these, 7,017 candidates scored 50 per cent and above. Ultimately, 4,411 students were admitted through UTME, while 238 gained admission via Direct Entry,” the vice-chancellor stated.
“Out of the staggering 22,000 applicants, only 4,215 were cleared to become bonafide students of the University of Ibadan.”
Ahead of the matriculation, the university held a two-day orientation programme for the newly admitted students, focusing on character development, academic excellence, campus engagement, and student safety.

Recent investigations into the disbursement of the Federal Government Student Loan Fund have uncovered several unethical practices by some institutions of higher learning.

According to the latest report by the Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO), of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), schools and banks are conspiring to short-change the students.

Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the Director General of the NOA, announced the findings after meeting with NELFUND Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, over the weekend. Initial reports indicated that certain university officials have been withholding vital information regarding loan disbursements, prompting immediate action from NELFUND.

The NOA’s feedback shows how specific institutions have, in connivance with some banks, deliberately delayed payments to successful student applicants for personal financial benefit. Some universities fail to acknowledge the NELFUND’s disbursements to the students. Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr confirmed that some institutions are failing to inform students about loan disbursements made in their name while still requiring them to pay tuition fees.

He stated, “Recent findings by NELFUND have shown that some institutions have received student loan disbursements directly into their accounts yet neglect to inform the affected students or record the payments in their financial records, leading to unnecessary confusion. Withholding critical financial information from students is not only unethical but also a breach of the principles on which NELFUND was founded. We are prepared to take legal action against any institution engaged in such deceptive practices.”

In response, Mallam Issa-Onilu has issued a strong warning to these institutions and collaborating banks to cease such activities.

NOA has directed its state directorates to provide further feedback from students across the country to ensure that the Federal Government takes appropriate actions against erring schools and banks.