Ibadan — President Umaru Yar Adua has challenged the University of Ibadan to brace up for greater challenges ahead despite her claim to great contributions to educational growth in the country.

He made this remark on Monday while visiting the University on the occasion of the 2008 Graduation and 60th Foundation Day ceremonies of the institution..

The President was represented by Hajiat Aishat Jibril Dunku, Minister for Education.

The President said: "The University's academic status in terms of global ranking is still not encouraging, though it is still the best in Nigeria based on the recent rankings carried out by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

"It is disheartening to note that the premier universities is not ranked among the first 20 universities in the world," the President noted.

He added that the University has been challenged and encouraged to "shake off the toga of local champion and put on the toga of continental and global champion".

The Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Ado Bayero, expressed happiness that relative peace now reigned at the ivory tower which enabled her to have a normal academic calendar last session after several years of disrupted academic calendar.

He pleaded with the students and management of the school to sustain the peaceful environment.

The Chancellor noted that education "is key to the realization of our development goals. We have no alternative but to pay due attention to education at all levels."

The Vice Chancellor of the University ,Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, commended members of the Interim Students' Union Government for their maturity and assured them that full democratic government would soon be put in place.

Some prominent Nigerians including Chief Gamaliel Onosode,and Prof. Iya Abubakar, among others, were conferred with honorary doctorate degree in science and literature.