No fewer than 12,500 candidates participated in this year’s Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) Screening Exercise, conducted by the University.
According to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Adekojo Waheed, the exercise was a huge success in a bid to getting the best candidates for the University. He likened the candidates to raw materials that any company would need before manufacturing its products. Professor Waheed added that the University was not prepared to start training and re-training half-baked candidates when admitted, as this could lead to a draw-back in attaining the set objectives of FUNAAB.
While comparing the screening exercise with those of previous years, Professor Waheed listed the improvement recorded to include the adoption of finger-print screening and biometrics by every candidate before being allowed to sit for the examination. He said this was made possible because every candidate’s data had been domiciled with the University with the relevant information, to guard against impersonation. In addition, he noted that candidates were not allowed within the screening premises, to use their mobile phones, electronic devices, bags and luggage as part of preventive measures against cheating.
The Chairperson, Admissions Committee of the University, Professor Oluyemisi Eromosele, also gave a pass-mark to the exercise. She described it as highly successful as everything went on fine as scheduled in terms of logistics. Professor Eromosele, who doubles as the Dean, College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS), re-iterated the commitment of FUNAAB at encouraging students to study agriculture-related courses, when compared with other programmes run by the University.
The Director of Academic Planning, Professor Olukayode Akinyemi, while reviewing the exercise, commended the efforts of the Federal Government in bench-marking the admission process, because it would allow many prospective students to have access to other levels of higher education such as the Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. He stated that it was imperative for Universities to have their own bench-marks, to maintain high standards. He noted that there were still other ways of screening-out candidates with bad characters even though they might have met the basic academic requirements in the interest of the system. Professor Akinyemi, however, advised candidates who could not be admitted into FUNAAB not to be discouraged as there were other institutions that could still admit them, because for now, FUNAAB could only admit about 3,500 applicants.
The Head, Information and Communication Technology Resource Centre (ICTREC), Dr. Olutayo Ajayi, disclosed that the candidates were made up of both Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry candidates. He added that the examination was conducted using the Computer-Based Test (CBT) method, which had been in practice in the University for some years now.
Some parents and guardians said they chose FUNAAB for their children and wards because of its high academic standard and the moderate fees being charged, when compared with other institutions, while a number of candidates interviewed stated that the conduct of the examination was smooth and hoped for the best. One of them, Mr. Adejuyigbe Oluwatobi, noted that the existing facilities and the way the screening was done was impressive, but wished that more time was allotted for them. Another candidate, Miss. Akinola Opemititi, lauded the University for making cheating impossible, as she also canvassed for more time for them to answer the questions in future.
During the two days of the exercise, the University gate was very busy as several business-minded persons used the opportunity to provide useful secretarial services to members of the public. Goods were also displayed and assorted food items sold to visitors. Many of the people who were interviewed expressed their appreciation at the efficient transportation arrangements put in place by the University.
Meanwhile, the results of the Screening Exercise have since been released. Candidates are required to log-in to the University website (www.unaab.edu.ng), for details.
Last Updated on August 31, 2015 by admin
