Glitz, Glamour, as UNILORIN receives ‘Outstanding University of the Year’ Award

It was a glorious moment for the University of Ilorin at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, last Friday (February 2, 2024), as the Better by Far institution received the New Telegraph’s ‘Outstanding Nigerian University of the Year 2023’ award at a grand event attended by the crème de la crème of the Nigerian society.

The University was among the 28 corporate organisations, public officials, including governors, captains of industry, top brands and distinguished individuals that received various honours awards for their various contributions to the socio-political and economic development of the country in the year 2023.

UNILORIN is, however, the only organisation in the education sector to feature in any category of the prestigious awards.

Presenting the ‘Nigerian Outstanding University’ award to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited, Mr Ayodele Aminu, said that the University won the award because of its dedication to academic excellence.

For the past 12 years, the University of Ilorin has continued to be the preferred choice of admission seekers, making it the nation’s most subscribed institution of higher learning as affirmed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). 

In 2023, the University was rated as the 3rd Best University in Nigeria based on the number and quality of scholarly outputs of its staff members in the last three years on Elsevier/Scopus – SciVal.

Also in 2023, four of its Faculties and 11 courses offered at the institution were ranked among the world best by the Times Higher Education (THE).

According to a recent ranking published by Study Abroad Aide, a leading platform for international students mobility, the University of Ilorin was ranked the 9th Best Value University for International Students among the 149 universities in Nigeria. The institution was also rated among the top 21% Best Value Universities globally, encompassing 8,060 institutions across 69 countries.

Reacting to the recognition of the institution by the New Telegraph, the Vice Chancellor, Prof.Wahab Egbewole, SAN, dedicated the award to the “hardworking workforce of the University of Ilorin”, adding that “the reward for hard work is more work”.

He further assured that “we are determined to go to the next level by ensuring that the vision 1:10:500 is a reality”.

Professor Egbewole urged the students of the institution to remain great ambassadors of the University, to hold faith in their institution, and to work towards its continued progress.

He encouraged alumni to return and contribute to the university that had shaped them.

The Vice-Chancellor was joined at the award ceremony by the Registrar, Mr Mansur Alfanla, FCIML, the University Librarian, Dr Kamaldeen Omopupa, the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, and the Acting Director of the Centre for Research Development and In-house Training (CREDIT), Dr Abdulkarim Oloyede, among others.