University of Ibadan on Wednesday formally welcomed thousands of newly admitted students into its academic community during the matriculation ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic session, held at the institution’s International Conference Centre.
The ceremony marked a defining moment for the fresh students, who took the matriculation oath in the early hours of Wednesday, officially becoming bona fide members of Nigeria’s premier university.
Several top university officials graced the event, including the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Peter Olapegba; the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Rasheed Olaniyi; and the matriculation lecturer, Oluwasola Ayoola, Chief Executive Officer of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria. Other principal officers of the university were also present, while the Vice-Chancellor, Kayode O. Adebowale, participated virtually.
Delivering his matriculation address online, Professor Adebowale congratulated the new students and encouraged them to remain focused, disciplined, and purposeful throughout their academic journey.
He described the University of Ibadan as an intellectual hub that has produced many distinguished personalities across different professions.
“Genuine success is achieved through deliberate choices,” the Vice-Chancellor said, urging the students to make intentional and strategic decisions during their time in the university.
Providing an overview of the admission process, Adebowale revealed that 4,430 students were admitted into the university for the 2025/2026 session. Of this figure, 4,171 gained admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), while 259 students were admitted through Direct Entry.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university received 45,991 UTME applications and 925 Direct Entry applications for the session. Out of the UTME applicants, 13,618 candidates met the university’s benchmark cut-off mark of 200.
He further explained that 7,046 candidates scored 50 percent and above in the post-UTME screening exercise, yet only about 9.4 percent of the total applicants were eventually admitted — a statistic that underscores the highly competitive nature of gaining admission into the institution.
In one of the most remarkable highlights of the admission process, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the oldest newly admitted student is 71-year-old Dr. Bolaji Jayeoba, demonstrating that the pursuit of knowledge knows no age limit.
The matriculation ceremony traditionally represents the students’ formal entry into the university system and their commitment to uphold the rules, values, and academic standards of the institution.
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