By: Muhammad Umar Pharook
When you step up to be screened as a student in most universities in Nigeria, the mere mention of Kogi state as your state of origin raises quite a stare, I know that much because I have had to experience it firsthand and also close friends have equally attested to such. So naturally, it is wise to conclude that Kogites place huge premium of education and the hunger for university education drives them to all the corners of the country and beyond.
However, with recently published ranking of universities in Nigeria which placed the university of Ilorin way ahead all other universities in Nigeria in first place (and 20th in Africa) and shockingly Kogi state university at 111th position, just one above the least ranked university (i.e Akwa Ibom state university) in 112th place, is just too bitter a pill for any well meaning kogites to swallow, given the state’s pride of place in education in Northern Nigeria.
If there’s any lesson from this to be learned, one most question, where did it all go wrong for an institution that once stood tall in the confluence of Benue and the Niger as the envy of most state universities especially with regards to infrastructure. Did management of state infrastructure suddenly fell into wrong hands? A lot of questions are bound but, rather than focus attention on that alone, prompt actions should at the point be enforced to salvage what’s left of the dwindling fortunes of the pride of Kogi state.
Below a complete list of the ranking:
Unilorin of Ilorin located in Ilorin, Kwara State ranks first in Nigeria and 20th In Africa in the recently released Rankings For July 2014.
See how other universities are ranked in Nigeria:
1 University of Ilorin – Ilorin
2 University of Lagos – Lagos
3 Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife
4 University of Ibadan – Ibadan
5 Landmark University – Omu-Aran
6 Covenant University – Ota
7 Federal University of Technology, Minna Minna
8 University of Benin – Ugbowo
9 University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Abeokuta
10 University of Nigeria Nsukka
11 Madonna University Okija
12 Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
13 University of Port Harcourt Port Harcourt
14 Federal University of Technology, Akure Akure
15 Rivers State University of Science and Technology Port Harcourt
16 Bayero University Kano Kano
17 University of Jos Jos
18 Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka
19 Redeemer’s University Mowe
20 University of Maiduguri Maiduguri
21 Ebonyi State University Abakaliki
22 Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti Ado-Ekiti
23 Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso
24 Lagos State University Ojo
25 Joseph Ayo Babalola University Ikeji-Arakeji
26 Federal University, Oye-Ekiti Oye
27 Kwara State University Ilorin
28 Veritas University Abuja
29 Federal University of Technology, Owerri Owerri
30 Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko
31 University of Uyo Uyo
32 Pan African University Lagos
33 Bingham University Auta Balifi
34 Federal University, Dutse Dutse
35 Osun State University Oshogbo …
36 University of Calabar Calabar
37 Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University Katsina
38 Nasarawa State University Keffi
39 Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ndufu-Alike
40 American University of Nigeria Yola
41 Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti
42 Baze University Abuja
43 Lead City University Ibadan
44 Tai Solarin University of Education Ijebu-Ode.
45 Federal University, Otuoke Otuoke
46 University of Agriculture, Makurdi Makurdi
47 Enugu State University of Science and Technology Enugu
48 Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma
49 Niger Delta University Wilberforce Island Yenagoa
50 Renaissance University Enugu
51 Anambra State University Uli
52 Crawford University Faith City …
53 Kaduna State University Kaduna
54 Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun
55 Achievers University, Owo Owo
56 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi
57 Delta State University, Abraka Abraka
58 Ajayi Crowther University Oyo Town
59 African University of Science and Technology Abuja
60 Benue State University Makurdi
61 Al-Hikmah University Ilorin …
62 Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye …
63 Caleb University Imota
64 Nigerian Turkish Nile University Abuja
65 Paul University Awka
66 Bells University of Technology Ota
67 Modibbo Adama University of Technology Yola
68 Adeleke University Ede
69 Igbinedion University Okada Okada …
70 Fountain University Oshogbo
71 Federal University, Lokoja Lokoja
72 Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai
73 Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umuahia
74 Benson Idahosa University Benin City
75 Caritas University Enugu
76 Ondo State University of Science & Technology Okitipupa
77 Babcock University Ilishan-Remo …
78 Bowen University Iwo
79 University of Mkar Mkar
80 Kebbi State University of Science and Technology Aliero
81 Oduduwa University Ile Ife
82 Novena University Ogume
83 University of Abuja Abuja
84 Imo State University Owerri
85 Obong University Obong Ntak
86 Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto
87 Kano University of Science and Technology Wudil
88 Federal University, Kashere Kashere
89 Crescent University Abeokuta
90 Salem University Lokoja
91 Abia State University Uturu
92 Elizade University Ilara-Mokin
93 Western Delta University Oghara
94 Cross River University of Science & Technology Calabar.
95 Federal University, Dutsin-Ma Dutsin-Ma
96 Wellspring University Benin City
97 Wesley University of Science and Technology Ondo City
98 Adamawa State University Mubi
99 Gombe State University Gombe
100 Federal University, Wukari Wukari
101 Samuel Adegboyega University Ogwa
102 Yobe State University Damaturu
103 Federal University, Lafia Lafia
104 Bauchi State University Gadau …
105 Taraba State University Jalingo
106 Sokoto State University Sokoto
107 Kwararafa University Wukari Wukari
108 Tansian University Umunya …
109 Godfrey Okoye University Ugwuomu-Nike
110 Katsina University Katsina
111 Kogi State University Anyigba
112 Akwa Ibom State University Uyo
Source: 4icu.org (4 International Colleges and Universities) Rankings For July 2014.
When I first shared the post, a couple of friend (and sadly enough, some from Kogi state university, Anyigba) mostly from Kogi state didn’t quite understand the implications of such ratings, rather they saw the uniqueness of the position (I.e Numberical Value of 111) as something worth celebrating because it felt they’ve accorded specialty. I would however not want to be like some friends from other states who felt such disheartening circumstance KSU would be greeted in a celebratory fashion worst still be its own Alumnus, might as well be concluded to have really painted the true picture of academia in the state.
But, for those who fail to see what this ranking meant, here is the really hard and painful truth to take from it, that Kogi state university seats at 111th position isn’t only the sad reality of the ratings, but also what it translates (for my friends and Alumnus of the institution) to is that, a certificate from the institution is 110th times least valuable to that of students from the University of Ilorin which aloft all others in Nigeria as at the July rating. Now that is some not worth rejoicing over, especially if you are from Kogi state. Something urgent and drastic needs to be done and done fast else, its only a matter of time before we knock Akwa Ibom state University off the bottom (God forbid).
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4icu.org (4 International Colleges and Universities) Rankings For July 2014.
I’m a 200level medical student of this great Institution..I came across this post while doing a personal research on the institution’s alumni..I believe the situation the school finds itself in is due to bad governance..I hope that changes soon with the next gubernitorial election.