The former vice-chancellor argued that the outcome should not be surprising given the calibre of students admitted into the Faculty of Law over the years.
Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Idowu Olayinka, has defended the 58 First Class graduates produced by the institution's Faculty of Law in the 2024/2025 academic session, describing criticisms of the development as unwarranted and ill-informed.
In a statement on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Mr Olayinka said he attended the Senate meeting on 16 February where the results of the graduating students were formally approved.
Of 146 students who completed the programme, 58 earned First Class honours, a figure that has since generated debate on social media.
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In recent years, the announcement of a high number of first-class graduates by Nigerian universities has often been met with mixed reactions.
While such achievements traditionally attract praise, they have also drawn scrutiny from sections of the public who question whether academic standards are being maintained.
The concern stems from a long-held belief that a first-class degree is exceptionally difficult to obtain and by implication, should be rare.
Ex-VC explains stance
Responding to the backlash, the former vice-chancellor argued that the outcome should not be surprising given the calibre of students admitted into the Faculty of Law over the years.
"One has read on social media about some negative comments on this development. At times people comment on topics that they have little information about. And so what if about 40% of the UI 2026 Law Graduating Class finished in the First Class category? You cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand.
"In reality, all the students admitted into the Faculty of Law at the University of Ibadan have potential to eventually graduate in First Class insofar as nearly all of them scored a weighted average mark of almost 70% in the UTME and post-UTME when they were offered admission," he said.
He disclosed that the merit cut-off mark for Law in the 2025/2026 academic session stands at 70.875 per cent. By comparison, Medicine and Surgery is pegged at 78.875 per cent, while Nursing Science is 71.375 per cent.
According to Mr Olayinka, the high entry requirements, a pattern he said has been consistent for at least two decades, naturally position students for outstanding academic performance at graduation.
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"It should worry us if majority of these academically outstanding students finished eventually after their five years of study with poor degrees," he stated.
Mr Olayinka commended the University Senate for maintaining very high academic standards, adding that the Faculty of Law has a longstanding record of excellence, including strong performances by its graduates at the Nigerian Law School's Final Bar Examinations.
He urged critics to refrain from making unsubstantiated comments and instead recognise the efforts of the Dean and academic staff of the faculty for bringing out the best in their students.
"You do not measure success by the quantum of failures. Law is not one of the flagship programmes at the University of Ibadan by just words of mouth. The reputation was earned and should be sustained," he said.
The former vice-chancellor also congratulated all final-year students whose results were approved at the Senate meeting, including the institution's first set of Doctor of Pharmacy graduates.
