For members of the University of Ibadan community, the last week has been marked by merriment. Undergraduates hunted the packed tents in Heritage Park and beyond, offering prayers, best wishes and wide smiles to parents and relatives whose joy knew no bounds. But nobody could be happier than the graduates themselves; as they shook hands with the Vice-Chancellor to the tune of “bata re a dun ko ko ka”, and littered social media with pictures, nostalgic musings and iterations of “If it is from Ibadan, it must be of the most outstanding quality”. It is only fair that they are allowed this moment of drunken happiness; these people who had spent five, six, seven or more years, in pursuit of a degree from the First and Best. But it is simultaneously a season for reflection.
Reflection, because on a November morning 76 years ago, the first sod was turned on land generously donated by the people of Ibadan; Recte sapere fons – For knowledge and sound understanding. This university which began with 104 students in three founding faculties produced 6,553 graduates this year, just from the undergraduate programs. The growth is undeniable but so have been the challenges.
Tumultuous Times
The institution that produced Soyinka and Achebe continues to churn out remarkable individuals, nurturing genius in a country that relentlessly threatens to crush it. Universities are the cornerstone of national development, producing the research, knowledge and human resources that keep the economy going. This relationship is reciprocal, as reflected by the huge hit taken by Nigerian universities in light of economic realities. Rising costs and unfriendly policies have made basic necessities a luxury that cannot be afforded.
The last session in particular will be remembered in the history of the University of Ibadan for a long time. A cut to government funding disguised as granting universities autonomy encouraged institutions to shift costs to students leading to an astronomical 450-750% school fee hike despite being ‘tuition-free’. Students reacted with disbelief, complained, and protested, but eventually had to cave in. Several applied for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), others who would not – citing their distrust of the system – opted for crowdfunding. Students have had to live from hand to mouth, cutting down the number and quality of meals they consume, and working more hours. It does not take a magician to see that these people cannot give their best to their education.
Despite this, the running costs are apparently not covered as the University has had to resort to rationing electricity. Students now have fewer hours of electricity to carry out their daily activities, read, and work virtual jobs. The situation at the University College Hospital is even more dire; the blackouts are now ubiquitous. Clinical students forced to report to postings in these impossible conditions had to resort to a boycott of academic activities twice, to make their needs known. Alternative energy sources are proving to be just as out of reach, with the price of fuel climbing up every passing day.
This is in addition to the already present problems of poorly maintained infrastructure, terrible hostel conditions, and incessant strikes. While an ASUU strike may not be on the horizon right now, Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) strikes, and for the clinical students, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the ongoing Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) strikes, continually impair the integrity of their education. Patient load is drastically reduced, along with learning opportunities for students. There is also the ever-present scourge of brain drain. Fewer and fewer resident doctors are in training to pass on their skills to medical students. The difference in the quality of medical education and expertise being acquired by students has become glaring.
Now your Journey Begins
The commencement speaker for the 2024 Convocation Ceremonies, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju – a University of Ibadan alumnus himself – fortuitously themed his speech around Gratitude. This sentiment must be shared by the graduates themselves, having battled a global pandemic and ASUU strikes; spending a minimum of two years extra in addition to their course requirement. Many would remember their mates who did not make it through thanks to tsunami, or financial issues, among others. They would also be grateful that they had been in the last session before the fee hike that rendered struggling students unable to pay their fees.
But as with all momentous occasions, gratitude was not the only sentiment that echoed in the International Conference Centre. They were also reminded that this was just the beginning of the struggle. Many would have already discovered that from the moment they finished their final exams and began the gruelling bureaucratic process of Clearance, in a stubbornly analogue system. Even after completing clearance, obtaining transcripts and certificates poses an almost insurmountable challenge. The 2022 medical inductees who had to wait two years to be awarded their certificates come to mind.
For students of the College of Medicine, the convocation does not hold as much weight. The more intimate setting of the induction is what is dreamt of. But the process of discovery is not any different. Completing clearance, and obtaining transcripts and certificates is just as bureaucratic and expensive as on the main campus. Reality becomes even clearer after the induction, as the new doctors refresh the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Portal hoping to get placement in a hospital of their choice. Had they previously been oblivious, they are quickly reminded of the impossible workload of the house officer, working the longest hours, while living in sub-optimal living quarters. They are also reminded at every turn, what it means to occupy the bottommost rung of a career highly fixated on experience.
All of this should be possible to overcome, after all, graduates of UI are not new to the struggle. That is until the insulation provided by the university campus is peeled off, and they realise that “Social justice, Equal chances” does not apply in this brutal outside world. It would start from NYSC as they scramble for redeployment to more people-friendly states and better-paying placements. The people who know the right people will get their wishes; those who do not will accept fate. Some would accept this absurdity as normal, while others seek a system rooted in meritocracy. Whichever path is chosen, the journey is truly just beginning.
The Weight of Legacy
The University of Ibadan losing its ranking as the “best” university in Nigeria in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University rankings came as a rude shock to many. This ranking is rigorous, based on teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook. And while University of Ibadan graduates continue to make waves everywhere they go, the University itself could not keep up. It is worth noting that the university that succeeded in surpassing this legacy institution is a private one. Like primary and secondary education, quality tertiary education in Nigeria is fast becoming the exclusive preserve of the wealthy.
From the moment they begin the process of graduation, University of Ibadan alumni enter a lifelong deal with their alma mater. Entering into this deal is simple enough; a minute fee of ₦1,000 paid to the University of Ibadan Alumni Association as part of the Convocation levies. But they would return several times, with the funds, experience and passion to keep the legacy alive.
At the College building, the offices of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) occupy a conspicuous location on the ground floor. ICOMAA can rightly be described as the lifeline of the College and even the University College Hospital. From funding the students’ hostel project to sponsoring indigent medical students, and donating equipment worth millions of dollars, the alumni carry the weight of restoring the glory of the first medical school in the country. In their most recent display of benevolence, for purchasing fuel for the students at Alexander Brown Hall, a sum of 2 million Naira was donated during the just-concluded blackout.
These are despondent times. It would be much easier to give in. But the University of Ibadan, the Fount, cannot be allowed to become a relic of better times past. For the sake of the people of Ibadan, for Nigeria, the millions of people who have graduated from this institution, and the millions more who will, the torch must be kept burning. While the concept of university autonomy is excellent, the Government must realise that subsidy is a stool that cannot be so suddenly removed from under Nigerian universities. The university management can also not afford to turn a blind eye to issues affecting students, as without students, there will be no university. As for the most recent addition to UI’s global community of alumni – the class of 2024 – we know that we will see them blazing trails. We can only hope that they come back to resuscitate the legacy.
