The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has pledged to strengthen postgraduate education in the institution by linking students with grant agencies and scholarship bodies.
Prof. Egbewole made the pledge last Tuesday (September 16, 2025) when he received the new members of the Executive Committee of the Postgraduate Students Association (POGSASS) of the University during a familiarisation visit to his office.
The Vice Chancellor announced that the University’s Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT) and Centre for International Education (CIE) would be tasked with identifying potential funding bodies to support postgraduate programmes, adding that efforts would also be made to connect postgraduate students with colleagues across disciplines who already have access to research grants, particularly to engage them as research assistants for career advancement.
While stating that postgraduate students are vital members of the University research community, given the diversity of their academic interests and their potential contributions to societal development, the Vice Chancellor encouraged them to take advantage of available resources to improve their academic performance.
Prof. Egbewole further urged the students to deliberately build their research profiles by registering on platforms such as ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and LinkedIn, while ensuring they are linked to the University’s identity on these platforms. He stressed that the students represent the future of the University and assured them of his commitment to supporting their academic pursuits.
On conference opportunities, the Vice Chancellor announced that postgraduate students would be supported more to attend academic gatherings. He explained that while some conferences come at no cost or with discounted student rates, postgraduate students must show interest early, prepare abstracts ahead of deadlines, and seize available opportunities. He added that sponsoring students for conferences not only benefits them but also enhances the reputation of the University.
While addressing issues of school charges, Prof. Egbewole noted that despite prevailing economic challenges, the University fees remain comparatively lower than those of other federal institutions. He maintained that the charges are designed to ensure postgraduate programmes run efficiently without unnecessary delays in completion.
The Vice Chancellor, however, reaffirmed that the 60/40 payment arrangement remains in place, but reminded students that the balance must be settled within the session, as deferred payments to subsequent sessions would not be accepted. He urged the POGSASS executive to encourage their members to honour this agreement, stressing that the fee regime is highly economical when weighed against the value being added to postgraduate training at the University.
Prof. Egbewole expressed optimism about building a positive working relationship with the new student leadership and assured them that management would continue to address their concerns with empathy and commitment.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of POGSASS, Comrade Hakeem Kuranga, appealed to the Vice Chancellor and the University administration to review school charges for postgraduate students in the light of the country’s current economic realities.
He explained that the removal of fuel subsidy had worsened living conditions for many Nigerians, including postgraduate students who are largely self-sponsored. According to him, a majority of the students are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet while balancing the demands of their studies.
Comrade Kuranga, who observed that postgraduate education is research-intensive and requires significant financial investment, appealed to the University management to deliberately include postgraduate students in any scholarship schemes provided within the institution. He stated that many scholarship opportunities are targeted at undergraduates, leaving postgraduate students without adequate external support.
The POGSASS President also requested that postgraduate students be given greater access to conference sponsorship, especially those with relevant academic papers to present. He stressed that this is particularly important for PhD candidates, who are required to publish research articles before being eligible for graduation.
The POGSASS President assured the University management of the association’s readiness to continue to collaborate, while urging that the concerns raised be given urgent and sympathetic consideration.
