The National Universities Commission (NUC) has deployed 26 academic and professional experts across eight accreditation panels to assess postgraduate programmes at the Pan African University Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), University of Ibadan.
The accreditation exercise, which commenced on Monday, is aimed at evaluating the quality, relevance, and compliance of the institute’s postgraduate programmes with national and international academic standards.
Speaking during a visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, a Deputy Director at the NUC, Mrs Uchenna Obidiagbo, confirmed the constitution of the eight accreditation panels deployed for the exercise.
According to her, the panels are responsible for assessing programmes in Plant Breeding, Medicinal Plant Research and Drug Development, Petroleum Geoscience, Avian Medicine and Vaccine Production and Quality Control, Reproductive Health, Sports Management and Policy Development, Environmental Management, and Mineral Exploration.
She explained that the accreditation process is a critical component of quality assurance in Nigeria’s university system, designed to ensure that academic programmes meet required benchmarks and remain globally competitive.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, described the exercise as a landmark moment for PAULESI, noting that it is the first accreditation exercise for its postgraduate programmes since the institute’s establishment under the African Union Commission.
He explained that accreditation remains a key mechanism for universities to evaluate themselves against global best practices and to improve the quality of teaching, research, and graduate outcomes.
“Accreditation exercises enable universities to measure themselves against global standards and best practices,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
Professor Adebowale expressed optimism that the outcome of the exercise would provide a strong framework for continuous improvement in postgraduate education across Africa, particularly in specialized scientific and developmental fields.
He further assured the accreditation panels of the university’s full cooperation, stating that the institution remains committed to maintaining high academic standards and supporting external quality assurance processes.
According to him, PAULESI was established through a competitive selection process under the African Union Commission’s initiative to strengthen science, technology, and innovation capacity across African universities.
He added that the institute is designed to produce highly skilled researchers capable of addressing Africa’s developmental and scientific challenges through advanced training and innovation-driven research.
“PAULESI is aimed at promoting research and producing a critical mass of researchers capable of addressing Africa’s developmental challenges,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that similar continental institutes exist in countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, and Cameroon, while Nigeria, through the University of Ibadan, serves as the West African hub.
He stressed that sustaining academic excellence in such specialized institutes is crucial for ensuring that African universities remain relevant in global knowledge production and scientific advancement.
On his part, speaking on behalf of the accreditation panels, Professor Saleh Ado, who heads the Reproductive Health team, said the exercise was aimed at determining whether the programmes meet the standards set by the NUC.
He described accreditation as an essential tool for quality assurance, adding that it helps strengthen academic delivery and ensures consistency in standards across institutions.
“The accreditation exercise is important for quality assurance and maintaining academic standards in Nigerian universities,” he said.
Professor Ado also described the relationship between the accreditation team and the university as a partnership focused on strengthening higher education outcomes.
He urged all stakeholders to adhere strictly to NUC guidelines throughout the evaluation process to ensure transparency, credibility, and meaningful outcomes.
The exercise is expected to further enhance the quality of postgraduate training at PAULESI and reinforce the University of Ibadan’s position as a leading centre for advanced academic research in Africa.
