Varsities may review post-UTME, says UNILORIN VC

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, has said that universities in the country may review their position on the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination if the current computer-based examination continued to be efficient.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board this year fully inaugurated the CBT for candidates seeking admission to the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The VC spoke in an interactive session with journalists in Ilorin on Monday.

Ambali said, “The University of Ilorin was the first to start CBT and I am glad that it is being embraced nationwide, especially by JAMB.

ADVERTISEMENT

“So, let us give JAMB a couple of trials and once the board restores confidence in the system, many universities may review the need for their post-JAMB. But in the meantime, we will continue to watch JAMB to see how consistent it would be in handling its CBT.”

Meanwhile, a professor of Agricultural Economics at the UNILORIN, Prof. Olubunmi Omotesho, has called on the government to give agricultural development a priority.

This, he said, would fast-track development, industrialisation and national food security.

He spoke while delivering an inaugural lecture of the university entitled, ‘Let the Small-Scale Farmer be in Good Standing.’

Canvassing that greater attention be given small-scale farmers, he noted that it would help them in producing enough food for the nation.

The don, who called the government to support farmers, also urged it to increase import tariff on agricultural products into the country.

According to him, this would form a part of agricultural products protection policies needed to protect Nigerian farmers.

Omotesho said, “Currently, agricultural lending represents only about two per cent of the total lending of banks in Nigeria. This performance is below the level of other developing countries like Kenya, which registers 6 per cent.

“Lack of reliable access to credit is therefore a major impediment to improving small farm operations and enhancing the livelihoods of rural households.

“In order to ensure a better performance of modern credit institutions and make farmers to access to credit facilities, the government, in conjunction with various agricultural financial institutions, should review the interest rate on loans to the smallholder farmers.

“It should move it from about 14 per cent to less than five per cent. It should also simplify the loan application process, ensure timely disbursement of loans to beneficiaries and scale down the amount of collateral demanded by the institutions.”