Campus News

FUCAP 2024: UNILORIN bags Best Performing University Award

The University of Ilorin has been honored with the prestigious Best Performing University Award by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Unilever Nigeria PLC’s Future X Unilever Campus Ambassador Programme (FUCAP) in recognition of its outstanding student engagement and leadership in youth empowerment.

               The award was presented to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, last Thursday (March 13, 2025) by the People Partner and FUCAP Project Lead, Unilever Nigeria, Mrs Zainab Ajadi, during a career seminar titled “Future Unilever Campus Ambassador Programme,” that held at the University Auditorium.

               Also, the Dean of Student Affairs, University of Ilorin, Dr Alex Morenikeji Akanmu, was recognised for his exemplary contributions in advancing the objective of the Future Unilever Campus Ambassador programme in UNILORIN.

               Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, expressed deep appreciation to Unilever and UNICEF for acknowledging the exceptional performance of UNILORIN students in the 2024 Future Career Programme. He noted that such recognition would further inspire students to achieve greater success in the 2025 FUCAP Career Seminar.

               Prof. Egbewole urged the students to actively participate in the FUCAP, U-INSPIRE and other skill-building initiatives designed to provide additional qualifications beyond their academic degrees. He stressed the importance of acquiring extra competencies, stating that the 21st-century job market demands more than just academic excellence.

               The Vice Chancellor said, “We have witnessed multiple revolutions, from the internet era to innovation, and now Artificial Intelligence. AI is capable of performing many of the tasks we previously considered specialised skills. This means that students must go beyond traditional learning and acquire hard and soft skills to remain competitive.”

Prof. Egbewole, who, explained that success in today’s world is not necessarily determined by classroom excellence alone, noted that the most successful individuals are those who think beyond academic grades, develop native intelligence, and combine it with practical skills to navigate real-world challenges.

  Also in his remarks, the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Alex Morenikeji Akanmu, who reiterated the importance of equipping students with competencies that match 21st-century job market demands, said the FUCAP scheme aligns perfectly with the University Administration’s vision of ensuring that all graduates possess additional skills alongside their academic certificates.

Dr Akanmu said, “The programme is designed to align with 21st-century needs. At the University of Ilorin, we place emphasis not just on academic certificates but on additional skills. This is why we have the U-INSPIRE programme. Now, every graduate of the University of Ilorin receives something extra beyond their certificate. They also leave with a U-INSPIRE certificate, which focuses on soft skills acquisition.”

Meanwhile, the Future X Youth Engagement and Partnership Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Bamidele, described the seminar as more than just an initiative but a movement aimed at enhancing stability among young people in Nigeria.

               The Coordinator also revealed that a UNILORIN student, Salaudeen Rahmat, has been identified as a Future Unilever Ambassador and has been actively engaging with Unilever and UNICEF to ensure that opportunities like FUCAP continue to be available to students at the institution.