Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

University of Ibadan has offered about 5,000 candidates admission out of 15,000 who applied for her postgraduate degree programmes for 2017/2018 academic session.

The admission cuts across 13 faculties in the premier university, while the admission are for Master degrees (MSc), Doctoral degrees (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil).

University of Ibadan postgraduate school, designated as Center of Excellence for Postgraduate studies, said it now has more candidates interested in pursuing their graduate degrees in the university

Dean of Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan, Mr Jonathan Babalola, made the disclosure, while presiding over the 73rd Interdisciplinary Research Discourse of the university entitled, "Synthetic Biology: From Biology to Engineering", delivered by Mr James Sturgis, of Aix-Marseille University, France.

According to him, the PG school has continued to ensure quality control of its applicants by setting aptitude test (Use of English) which majority of applicants failed.

While noting that many are looking to the university to crown their undergraduate degrees, he maintained that the institution would continue to maintain standards and quality to ensure that the best of applicants gain admission to the university.

Sturgis, a Professor of Biology, in his lecture, called on universities and government of Nigeria to invest in synthetic biology to develop solutions to improve crops, livestock and health of its citizenry.

While describing it as a low investment with huge returns, he maintained that synthetic biology investment would ensure the independence of the country from being at the mercy of foreign interests and multinationals companies.

He however called for appropriate establishment of legal and regulatory framework to ensure bio-safety, bio-security and ethics.

Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Mr Idowu Olayinka, who was the Chairman at the event promised that the university would ensure partnership with Aix-Marseille University to develop fully the area of synthetic biology.