The Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Professor Eddy Olanipekun, has stated that award of first class degree to graduating students in public universities in Nigeria is largely by merit and not a matter of ‘trade by barter’.
The Professor of Industrial Chemistry also declared that EKSU has done creditably in promoting scholarship in the last 40 years of its creation.
Olanipekun said the fact that the EKSU was ranked third among the 60 state universities in the country on webometrics vividly confirmed that the institution’s management had worked hard to make the citadel of learning to impact positively on scholarship.
Olanipekun stated this at EKSU yesterday at the unveiling of the logo for the 40th establishment of the institution.
In an interaction with journalists at the event, Olanipekun, while speaking about the proliferation of first class in some universities, said: “I can only speak for the public universities, and I can say that it is earned by merit.
“Whoever gets it must have worked for it, and it is not by trade by barter. It is a matter of getting what you have worked for.”
Applauding the giant steps taken by EKSU in the last four decades, the VC said: “This university has been outstanding in performances in 40 years. On webometrics ranking done recently, EKSU was ranked third out of 60 state universities in Nigeria.
“EKSU was also ranked 16th out of the over 200 federal, state and private universities in Nigeria. It was 114 about two years ago. That we have been able to push it forward to this level in two years shows that we have worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices.
“Our vision is to make this university one of the best in Nigeria, or one of the best 10 in the country.”