Emmanuel Alayande University of Education in Oyo has announced a significant academic milestone with the promotion of forty-seven of its staff to the esteemed professorial cadre. This move is a key part of the institution's transformation from a former College of Education into a full-fledged university.
A Leap in Academic Standing
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan, made the revelation during a press briefing ahead of the university's third foundation day celebration. He stated that the promotions, conducted during the 2023/2024 academic exercise, signify a remarkable improvement in scholarship and staff dedication.
"Two years ago, we had no staff on the professorial cadre. Today, 47 of our academic staff have been found worthy and promoted as associate professors. This speaks to the quality of scholarship, rigorous assessment and staff dedication," Olaniyan declared.
Beyond the professorial elevations, the promotion exercise also benefited 86 other lecturers, 116 senior non-academic staff, and 30 junior staff, reflecting a broad-based recognition of commitment across the university.
Foundations of Growth and Economic Impact
Professor Olaniyan traced this progress to the institution's formal upgrade to a University of Education on December 16, 2023, following a law passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly and the issuance of an operational certificate by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The university began full operations in August 2023 and has since experienced explosive growth. It has secured NUC approval for 50 academic programmes and enrolled a total of 9,620 students across three sessions:
- 2,726 students for the 2023/2024 session.
- 3,034 students for the 2024/2025 session.
- 3,860 students for the current academic year.
This admission trend positions it among Nigeria's fastest-growing universities. Furthermore, the vice-chancellor disclosed that the institution has become a major economic engine for Oyo town, injecting an estimated N11.2 billion into the local economy between January and November 2025 through housing, transportation, and commerce.
Addressing Legacy and Future Challenges
As part of its foundation day activities, the university plans to hold a special convocation for 47,623 Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) graduates who completed their programmes between 2004 and 2025 but never received their certificates formally.
"This is a moral and institutional debt we must redeem. The last convocation on this campus was held for those who graduated up to 2005. This ceremony will mark a clean transition from the College of Education era to a university system," Olaniyan explained.
On student welfare, the VC renewed an urgent appeal to the Federal Government to construct a pedestrian bridge on the busy Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway, citing it as a critical safety hazard for students and staff. Despite infrastructural challenges, he expressed optimism, noting that staff are winning research grants and students are garnering academic accolades.
