VC Decries Low Percentage Of Nigerian Students Gaining Admission Into Universities

Vice Chancellor Trinity University, Prof Clement Kolawole has lamented the low percentage of Nigerian students gaining admission into Nigeria universities, saying only 35 per cent of the total applicants for admission into the university and tertiary institutions were successful in their quest to gain admission into higher school of learning in the last couple of years in the country.

He made this disclosure at the 6th Matriculation ceremony of the institution with the theme Empower living; Unlocking your potential at the Yaba Campus of the institution in Lagos.

He said, “In 2018, 1,653,127 candidates applied for admission but only 549,763 (33.25%) of them were offered admissions, in 2021/2022 session, 1,116,021 candidates applied for admission but only 600,000(54%) were admitted, in 2022/2023 session, 1.8 million candidates applied for admission but 557,626(35%) of them were admitted while in 2023/204 academic session 1.7 million students applied for admission and it is not clear what percentage of them would eventually be offered admission.”

To this end, he enthused that the institution is making sure students who gained admission into the institution acquire skills that will enable them to solve indigenous problems with indigenous solutions by making them job creators after graduation.

He stated, “As a forward-looking university, we are making efforts to introduce five new programmes such as optometry, biochemistry, cyber security, software engineering, and film and multimedia studies. These are programmes we believe are not only relevant for the moment but also prepare us for the future.”

The Vice chancellor expressed the school’s determination to collaborate with other institutions within and outside Nigeria that will let the students gain on-the-job skills that will equip them to be impactful graduates.

The keynote speaker, a former managing director and chief executive officer of Wema Bank Plc, Ademola Adebise stated that theme, “Encompasses self-awareness, self-development, and resilience, which are the pillars upon which one can build a strong foundation for one’s future.”

Adebise stated, “Self-awareness is the first step on this journey. It involves recognizing and acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses while being guided by your core beliefs and values.”