FIRST UNIVERSITY IN AFRICA & THE TOP 10 OLDEST
INTRODUCTION
The essence of education arose from a very long period of time, as it was discovered in the olden days that many people wanted to read and write, some even wanted to go further, to know how to calculate from time to time.
In the olden days, there were traders who needed to count their earnings and some other people who needed to know the number of earnings that is spent per day.
This was where the eruption of education came from. There are so many right definitions of a University;
A University is a place where education takes place first of all.
A University is also a place where the conduct of educational services and organization of educational operatives takes place.
It is a place for people to come, learn and benefit from its educational system and institution.
A University is also known as a place, where there is communal or collective dishing out of information for students or learners from their teachers or facilitators.
Back in the day, people counted their earnings or their pennies with the use of a device called abacus, some even made use of their fingers and their toes to count from time to time.
This is where education sprung from, and this is also where the background of education was built.
When the government, found out that people could benefit from a formal type of education, which involves sitting in a classroom and receiving knowledge or information from a facilitator or teacher, the government devised a means whereby people would be able to come and learn and use what they have learnt to benefit themselves and their society. The need for a University thereby arose.
The government thought about a way by which people would be able to learn even at their own convenience and this brought about the need for University.
Some Universities were created at that appointed time to satisfy immediate needs because there was a high demand for education of people who wanted to learn and who even wanted to teach their children what they have learned in school.
The tertiary institutions were brought about by a certain government in Nigeria and these institutions were regarded as the oldest institutions in the country.
After the development of these institutions, some other people came up to devise a means to build Universities in larger quantities so that it can be beneficial to all members and citizens of the country.
In Nigeria today, there is no state of all the 36 states in Nigeria, that does not have at least a Federal and a State University embedded in it for the purpose of learners who have graduated from the Primary School levels to Secondary School levels and are not fit to be in the University.
Every state has at least two Universities for its indigenes and this has brought about a high amount of development in the country Nigeria.
In Nigeria, over 60% of citizens are educated or learning to be educated in a way, this University system brought about a kind of awareness for the people, to know different things about themselves and their societies, such as their rights, their freedom, their policies and every other thing that a citizen is supposed to know about him or herself or his or her society.
This educational system was very functional and is still very functional to alleviate or remove ignorance from the life of the citizens of Nigeria.
This article will be based on the Oldest Universities that were established by the government at that particular point in time.
These Universities were enacted by a certain government and this article would help readers to understand and to know Universities and how they came into place in the country.
THE TOP 10 OLDEST UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA
There are some Universities in Nigeria that were built first before other Universities, and they are known as;
- UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN
This school is popularly known as the University of Ibadan, and its acronym is known as UI. This is the oldest University in Nigeria, and it is about five miles from the city of Ibadan which is a Western state in Nigeria. Some people or students also refer to this University as Unibadan. The school was not formerly known as the University of Ibadan, as it was formerly known as The University College, Ibadan. The school is a public type and is open to all students from different parts of the country. It came into existence in the year 1948, and the chairman of the University is known as Nde Joshua Mutka Waklek. The Chancellor of the University is known as Alhaji Saad Abubakar, who is the Sultan of Sokoto. The Vice-Chancellor of the University is known as Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka. The motto of the school is; ‘Recte Sapere Fons’ which means ‘Right thinking is the fount of knowledge’. The University has over 35,000 students.
The University is affiliated with;
- Association of African Universities (AAU)
- Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
- Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
- National Universities Commission (NUC)
- UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA
This University was established in 1960, and it is located at Enugu, which is the Eastern part of Nigeria. The University is known by everyone as UNN, and its founder was known as Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1955, who was a firm believer of education. The school later commenced duty on October 7, 1960. There are three major campuses owned by the school; one is at Nsukka, the other at Enugu and the last one at Ituku-Ozalla which all in Enugu state. The school was formerly known as University of Biafra from July 1967 to January 1970. The motto of the school constitutes; To Restore the Dignity of man. The school harbors over 36,000 students in all campuses and the colors of the school are known as Green and White. The nickname given to the University is; Lion and Lionesses.
- OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, IFE
This University is owned by the Federal government, and so, it receives its funding from the Federal government of Nigeria. The University is known to be very ancient, but it still stands strong and is list amongst one of the best Universities in Nigeria. The University was founded in 1961, but it began its educational activities in October 1962. The establishment of this school came about by the government but was led by the late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola who wanted an education in the West by all means. Later on, on May 27, the name of the school was changed to honor the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who first came up with the idea of the University. The motto of the school is; For Learning and Culture, and it is a Public University, that opens its doors to people from different parts of the world. The Vice-Chancellor of the University is known as Eyitope Ogunbodede and the school harbors over 36,000 students.
- AHMAD BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
This school was established in 1962, and it is located at Kaduna. This is the first University to be built in the Northern part of the country, Nigeria. The University is known as a Government research University, which came into action in 1963. The University was formerly known as ‘University of Northern Nigeria’. The Chancellor of the University is known as Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, who is also the Obi of Onitsha. The Vice-Chancellor is known as Professor Ibrahim Garba. The color of the school is Green and its nickname is known as ABU.
- UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS
This University was established in 1962, and it is located in Lagos state, which is known as the ‘Center of Excellence’. This school is known by everyone in and out of Lagos as Unilag and it is a Federal Government Research University. The motto of the University is known as; In Deed and In Truth. The Vice-Chancellor of the school is known as Professor Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe. The colors of the school are; Gold and Puce and its nickname are known as ‘Akokites’.
- UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI
This University was established in 1975, and it is located at Borno state. This University is known as UNIMAID in Maiduguri, which is in the northeast part of Nigeria. On commencement, the University wanted to be the best in the Nation, and they continued to work towards that objective and initiative. The Vice-Chancellor of the University is known as Professor Ibrahim Njodi.
- UNIVERSITY OF BENIN
This University is found in Edo state, it was established in 1970. This university is popularly known as UNIBEN and is listed amongst the first-generation Federal universities in Nigeria. The motto of the University is known as ‘Knowledge for Service’. The Chancellor of the University is known as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, while the Vice-Chancellor is known as Professor Faraday Orumwense. The University harbors over 75,000 students. The University owns two campuses known as Ugbowo Campus and Ekenwan Campus. The colors of the school are; Purple and Gold. Its nickname is known as UNIBEST and it has an affiliation with College of Education Akoka, Lagos state.
- UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR
This University was established in 1975, and it is located at Cross river state. This University is located at the south-south part of Nigeria, and it makes the list of the second generation Federal Universities in Nigeria. It was formerly a campus for University of Nigeria till 1975. The architecture work of the University was implemented by John Elliot, and the University is traditional in nature. The male students of the University are called Malabites and the female students are called Calabrese. The administration of the University is known as;
- The Vice-Chancellor of the University is known as Professor Zana I. Akpagu.
- The DVC (Academics) of the University is known as Professor Florence Obi.
- The DVC (Administration) is known ad Professor Ndifreke Udonwa.
- The Registrar of the University is known as Mr. Moses O. Abang.
- The Bursar of the University is known as Mrs. Beatrice Igwe.
- The Librarian of the University is known as Dr. (Mrs.) Nkoyo Edem.
- UNIVERSITY OF JOS
This University was established in 1975 and it is located at Plateau state. The University is popularly known as Unijos and it is located at the Central part of Nigeria. The motto of the University is known as; Discipline and Dedication. The Vice-Chancellor of the University is known as Professor Sebastian Seddi Mamiko, and the University harbors over 14,000 students.
- UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN
This University was established in 1975, and it is located at Kwara state. This University is a Federal Government University and its motto is known as Probitas Doctrina. The Chancellor of the University is known as HRH Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, who is also the Emir of Katsina, while the Vice-Chancellor of the University is known as Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem.
CONCLUSION
These Universities date back to the 70s but are still known to be the best in the country. Although other Universities have been established, these Universities still have the highest number of occupants as students.