The University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, has honoured the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, decorating him as UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary.
While receiving the award from the management team of the university led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Vice President assured that he will support the University of Ibadan to remain the first and the best university in Nigeria and to reclaim its glory globally.

Shettima acknowledged that UI is the greatest citadel of learning in Nigeria and West Africa, recalling that in his days as a postgraduate student in UI, the university had students from all over Africa who came to obtain UI degrees, and that the university has produced many icons.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s unfaltering decision to reposition Nigeria’s education sector, affirming that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, will mobilise both public and private sector support to reposition higher institutions of learning, particularly the University of Ibadan, being Nigeria’s premier university.
The Vice President expressed profound delight at the honour bestowed on him by the university, stating that he will gladly display the plaque in his office as a warm reminder of his staunch affiliation to the university.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor disclosed that he led the special team from the university to perform the significant task which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the University of Ibadan, restating that the university was established in 1948 and had turned 75 years on 17 November, 2023.
Professor Adebowale explained that the university, through its UI@75 Committee, decided to celebrate the landmark anniversary by carefully selecting notable alumni of the university who have made invaluable impact and contributed significantly to the advancement of the cause of humanity.
He stated that the university had earlier designated many alumni as UI@75 ambassadors, while notable friends and eminent personalities who are not alumni of the university were designated as UI@75 Ambassadors Extraordinaire.
The Vice Chancellor disclosed that the Vice President is the only alumnus of the university designated as UI@75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary, the highest alumnus honour conferred.
The Registrar of the university, Mr Ganiyu Saliu, decorated the Vice President, on behalf of the council, senate, staff, and students of the University, and presented a plaque to the honouree.
On the Vice Chancellor’s entourage were the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba; the Registrar, Mr Ganiyu Saliu; Director of the Office of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi Olasope; a Faculty member, Dr Babatunde Blavo; Mr Oladayo Olajide, and Mr Adeniyi Adebayo of the UI Directorate of Public Communication.
Olusola Akintonde




