University of Nigeria

==History==
A law to establish a university in the [[Eastern Region, Nigeria|Eastern Region]] of Nigeria was passed on 18 May 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackpast.org/?q=1955-nnamdi-azikiwe-university-nigeria-speech |title="The University of Nigeria Speech" by Nnamdi Azikiwe |publisher=Blackpast.org |date=18 May 1955 |access-date=24 January 2014}}</ref> Advise was sought from educationists in the UK and the US to help in the planning of the physical and educational aspects of the proposed university.

Under the joint auspices of the [[Inter-University Council for East Africa|Inter-University Council]] for [[Higher education|Higher Education]] and Overseas and the International Co-operation Administration (now the [[United States Agency for International Development]]), [[Chancellor (education)|J.W. Cook, Vice-Chancellor]] of the [[University of Exeter]], Dr [[John A. Hannah]], President of [[Michigan State University]] and [[Glen L. Taggart|Dr. Glen L. Taggart]], Dean of International Programs at the same university, came to Nigeria in 1958. The team surveyed the site at Nsukka and extensively investigated a great variety of factors pertinent to the establishment of a new university.

The results of their efforts were contained in a [[white paper]] issued by the Eastern Nigeria Government on 30 [[November 1958]]. They had recommended, "that the development of the University of Nigeria based upon the concept of service to problems and needs of Nigeria, is a desirable project and one that should receive support from any source which could help to make it a sound endeavour".

They further recommended that a provisional council be established to "draw upon the technical and consultative resources available throughout the world for help in planning the institution".

The provisional council, authorized by the Eastern Nigeria Legislature, was appointed by the Governor in Council in April 1959, and given the necessary financial and administrative powers to build a sound university. It reflected the spirit of international co-operation which has given birth to the institution. It consisted of [[Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe]], chairman, Dr [[Taslim Olawale Elias|T. Olawale Elias]] and Dr [[Okechukwu Ikejiani]] from the Federation of Nigeria, [[J. S. Fulton]] from the United Kingdom, Dr. Marguerite Cartwright and Dr. Eldon Lee Johnson from the United States. The university was formally opened on 7 October 1960, as the climax to the Nigerian independence celebrations in the country's Eastern Region, by [[Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady Ogilvy|Princess Alexandra of Kent]]. Classes began on 17 October 1960 with an enrollment of 220 students and 13 members of the academic staff. The opening convocation addresses were delivered by the Chairman of the Provisional Council, [[Nnamdi Azikiwe]], the first President of the Federation of Nigeria, and by [[John A. Hannah]], president of [[Michigan State University]].{{cn|date=December 2023}}

The university was fully [[autonomous]], with the power to grant its own degrees. Technically speaking, therefore, it became the first fully-fledged university in Nigeria, since [[Ibadan]] was still at that time a university college granting London degrees. It also became the first university established by a Nigerian Regional Government. [[University of Ibadan|The University College Ibadan]], the oldest degree-awarding institution, cut its umbilical cord with [[London|London in January 1963]], becoming the [[University of Ibadan]]. In July 1967, it turned out the first graduates holding Ibadan (rather than London) [[Academic degree|degrees]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Archive |url=http://www.ui.edu.ng/deptmedicine.htm |website=UI Archive |publisher=University of Ibadan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009145219/http://www.ui.edu.ng/deptmedicine.htm |access-date=26 May 2019|archive-date=9 October 2006 }}</ref> by which time Nsukka had produced two crops of graduates and taken all the [[publicity]] for turning out the first [[Graduation|graduates]] of an autonomous Nigerian university.<ref>University Development in Africa – The Nigerian Experience by Chukwuemeka Ike, Oxford University Press, 1976, pp 9</ref>