The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Ilorin, Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho, has confirmed that new students of the University will resume for the 2024/2025 academic session in October, saying that the new students will be drawn from a merger of those earlier admitted for the 2023/2024 session and those that participated in the just concluded 2024/2025 Post-UTME exercise.
According to Professor Omotesho, who announced it in an interview with UNILORIN Bulletin on Thursday August 29, 2024, the proposed October return date will be considered by the committee of professors and deans after a normal procedure has been followed before being forwarded to the senate for approval. He said he official date of resumption will be announced as soon as the Senate passes it.
While speaking on the reason for merging two sets of applicants to make an academic session, Prof. Omotesho highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), both of which lasted for about a year, saying that the two occurrences caused the University to run one session behind schedule.
The Deputy Chancellor explained that the administration had initially proposed merging two academic sessions in order to address the backlog, but at the time of the 13th Council’s proposal there was a suggestion for simultaneous programming. Nevertheless, it became clear that two sessions at the same time would not be possible due to logistics problems.
Prof. Omotesho stated that, following extensive consultations, the university administration has decided to formally cancel its 2023/24 session and noted that given the logistical issues involved, a combination of these two sessions would be an easy option. This will involve two sets of JAMB candidates, which is better addressed now because if we continue like this, we’re going to carry one set with us for the rest of our lives.” He added that the decision was intended to streamline the university academic calendar, so as to allow a new semester to begin in October and restore an historic cycle of semesters which began in October and ended in July.
