Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s firm commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s education sector, with a specific pledge to mobilise both public and private sector support to strengthen the country’s academic institutions, including the University of Ibadan (UI).
The Vice President made the remarks on Thursday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the University of Ibadan, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. During the visit, the university conferred on Shettima its highest alumni recognition, the title of “UI at 75 Ambassador Plenipotentiary” in acknowledgment of his outstanding contributions to the public and private sectors.
A 1991 graduate of the institution, Shettima holds a master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from UI. Speaking at the event, he described the university as the “greatest citadel of learning in West Africa,” recalling its historic academic prominence and continental reputation.
“This is an honour I cherish deeply. Ibadan is certainly the greatest citadel of learning in this country and in West Africa. When we were there, we had students from South Africa, Namibia, and even the Caribbean,” he said.
Highlighting UI’s legacy, the Vice President noted that at one point, the University College Hospital in Ibadan was internationally recommended, even once for the King of Saudi Arabia’s treatment. He pledged that the Tinubu administration would do everything possible to restore such academic excellence across the nation.
“We are going to mobilise resources from both the private and public sectors to ensure that UI and other universities in the country succeed,” he stated.
Shettima also highlighted the administration’s education-focused reforms, particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he described as a transformative initiative aimed at improving access to higher education for underprivileged students.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are determined to rescue the educational sector. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund is the first of its kind, directly addressing the needs of underprivileged students,” he added.
Turning to the economy, the Vice President expressed optimism, stating that the country is now on a path of sustained growth.
“Our economy has turned the corner, we have crossed the Rubicon, and we are on the path to sustained economic growth. The tax revenue of the government has steadily increased. The President is an economic guru who understands the language of commerce and is completely at home in the economic ecosystem,” he said.
In his remarks, Professor Adebowale explained that Shettima’s recognition as Ambassador Plenipotentiary is unprecedented in the institution’s history. He noted that while some alumni were honoured as UI at 75 Ambassadors Extraordinary, Shettima’s leadership role as Vice President and his distinguished record across multiple sectors made him deserving of a unique classification.
“You are a foremost alumnus of the University of Ibadan, the first and the best,” Professor Adebowale said. “We came here to honour one of our own; someone who has contributed in the banking sector, as Governor of Borno State, and now as Vice President of Nigeria.”
Other members of the university’s delegation included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba; the University Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Oke Saliu; Director of Alumni Relations, Professor Olakunbi O. Olasope; Department of Classics Lecturer, Mr. Babatunde Blavo; and Mr. Oladayo Olajide of the Directorate of Public Communications.
