The University of Ilorin has concluded plan to construct a hydro power plant to be propelled by the river feeding the university’s small earth dam to generate power, not only for the institution but also its surrounding communities.
This was disclosed by the Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, on Monday at the press briefing marking the beginning of the 36th Convocation ceremony of the institution.
Abdulkareem, who stated that the feasibility study and design of the project have been carried out by the institution’s National Centre for Hydropower Plant Research and Development, said the “bill of quantity has been prepared and construction will commence in due course as part of the 2021 capital projects.”
In addition, he said the university, through a special intervention from the Central Bank of Nigeria, has also started a mega poultry farm that would greatly serve the needs of not only the University, but also the people within the institution’s environment, adding that the farm would be a great source of internally generated revenue for the university as well as a training centre for the staff and students.
The VC said 10,922 students are to graduate from the University for the 2019/2021 academic session, while a total number of 180 students bagged first class honour, and 2,836 students have second class upper.
He added that 4,879 students have second class lower and 1,110 students with third class, while 14 graduates came out with pass degrees.
Despite the challenges faced by universities in the 2019/2020 session owing to COVID-19 pandemic, the VC said the University of Ilorin has produced the most employed graduates in the country, adding that the Institution has also been able to strengthen its research base to make it better, aside the execution of about 26 physical infrastructure by his administration to aide teaching and learning.
Besides, he disclosed that the university has expended about N68m to improve on the institution’s ICT services to support the students .
Prof. Abdulkareem expressed worry over the decline in the number of academic and non academic staff at the Institution due to deaths and retirements, urging the federal government to include Universities on the list of ministries allowed to employ workers to fill the vacant positions.
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