JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede Reveals The First University In Nigeria

Professor Ishaq Oloyede expressed his opinion on the long-standing debate regarding the first university to be established in Nigeria. During his speech at the Valedictory lecture of Professor Benjamin Ozumba, he brought up the issue and stated that there is no historical dispute that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) was the first university in Nigeria.

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, expressed his opinion on the long-standing debate regarding the first university to be established in Nigeria. During his speech at the Valedictory lecture of Professor Benjamin Ozumba, he brought up the issue and stated that there is no historical dispute that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) was the first university in Nigeria.

The Registrar clarified that the University of Ibadan was not established before UNN, as it was only a University College at the time. “When someone say this is the first university in Nigeria, nobody in history can dispute it because it was the first university. University of Ibadan was not established before UNN, what we had was University college. You cannot write about the history of universities in West Africa without talking about UNN”, he asserted.

Expanding his discourse, Professor Oloyede extended scrutiny to the rivalry between the University of Ibadan and the University of Ghana, both vying for the title of West Africa’s premier university. He debunked their assertions, labeling them as “mere colleges” upon establishment. Highlighting a pivotal distinction, he elucidated that graduates from these institutions were categorized as external candidates, signifying their affiliation with the University of London rather than with their purported alma maters.

Further, Professor Oloyede’s statement aimed to educate and provide clarity on the issue, rather than to patronize UNN. He emphasized that UNN was the first full-fledged university in Nigeria, and this fact cannot be disputed historically.