Gbenro Adesina
The Times Higher Education Impact Ranking has rated University of Ibadan (UI) among the first 500 universities globally.
This was contained in the 2021 World University Rankings announced by the global body today, September 2, 2020, which featured more than 1,500 institutions from across 93 countries and regions.
Only 6 Nigerian University featured in the ranking: UI (401-500 band), Lagos State University (501-600 band), University of Lagos (601-800 band), Covenant University (801-1000 band), University of Nigeria Nsukka (1000+ band), and Obafemi Awolowo University (1000+ band).
In a statement, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, said, “The Times Higher Education (THE) has today, 2nd September 2020, released its World University Rankings 2021. It is gratifying to note that the University of Ibadan has been ranked in the 401- 500 band. This is our best performance since 2016 when the University of Ibadan started featuring on this highly respected and prestigious Universities ranking body, and in spite of a fiercer competition engendered by an increase in the number of universities assessed worldwide by the THE.
“The Times Higher Education World University Rankings are the only global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. The THE uses 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments.
“The performance indicators are grouped into five areas: Teaching (the learning environment); Research (volume, income and reputation); Citations (research influence); International outlook (staff, students and research); and Industry income (knowledge transfer).
“We acknowledge with thanks the support of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, the Federal Ministry of Education under Mallam Adamu Adamu, and its agencies especially the National Universities Commission under Professor Abubakar Rasheed, FNAL and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund under Prof Elias Suleiman Bogoro, FAS, the Council under Nde Joshua Mutka Waklek, mni, the Senate, our staff, students, alumni/alumnae and friends of UI. We appreciate your consistent support. We trust we can always count on your invaluable assistance and encouragement in the years ahead.
“Congratulations to all of us in the UI Project.
“To God alone be the honour, glory and adoration”.
Commenting on the fortune of the Premier University despite various challenges, Professor Olayinka said,”The modest achievement is in spite of all our challenges, both the internally triggered and those externally induced. We have a good idea of what it takes to be a world-class institution. We will continue to improve until we reach the promised land. Our students and alumni would be the better for it, while we meaningfully impact our immediate society and the entire world”.
