The management of Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado-Ekiti has postponed the start of the First Semester Examinations for students in the 400 and 500 levels and the Second Semester Examinations for students in the 100, 200, and 300 levels of the 2023/2024 academic session by one week.
The examinations, which were originally slated to begin on Monday, August 12, will now begin on Monday, August 19, 2024.
Prof. Edward Olanipekun, Vice Chancellor of the University, announced this to reporters during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
According to him, the postponement was due to unexpected circumstances that impacted the university’s academic calendar.
Olanipekun said, ”The examination will now commence on Monday, 19th of August as against the earlier scheduled date of Monday,12th of August, 2024.
“That decision was taken in view of unforeseen circumstances which affected the academic calendar approved by the Senate. The one week extension will allow the students to have adequate time to prepare for their exams so that they can do well.
“We have understanding with our students and as you are aware, we have new student union leaders. We pleaded with them that they should go about their normal academic activities which they took in good faith.
“We have been in constant communication and the outcome is the one week extension of their exams between the management and the student union leaders.”
Speaking further, the VC disclosed that the university is set to commence two new programmes, Doctor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
”The university is in the process of commencing two new programmes and the programmes are Doctor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Dental Surgery.
“We are expecting the result of the visitation panels both from the National Universities Commission (NUC) as well as the Professional Regulatory Agency, and for Doctor of Pharmacy, we are expecting a team of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
“We are optimistic that the outcome of the visit will be positive and following the visit if it turns out positive that means that we are admitting the first set of students into the two programmes that is, Doctor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Dental Surgery.”
On the recent elevation of some academic staff of the institution to the rank of Professorship, Olanipekun said, “Yes, very recently, to God be the glory, we promoted 70 academic staff to the rank of Professors and they cut across all fields, colleges and faculties.
”We equally promoted 60 to the position of readers, which is equivalent to Associate Professors and we also have those in the non-teaching sector that were promoted to the positions of Deputy Registrar, Deputy Bursar, Deputy Director and others. The council has approved all the promotions.
”I also want to let you know that in our Faculty of Law, we now have seven Professors from the two we used to have.”