The Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has conducted its third post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). No fewer than 40,000 candidates took the exam. OLATUNJI AWE (300-Level Political Science, Ekiti State University) and FRANCIS OLOWOLAFE (200-Level Theatre and Media Arts, FUOYE) report.
The quiet town of Oye-Ekiti in Ekiti State came alive recently. No fewer than 40,000 candidates swarmed the town to write the entrance examination of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), one of the seven universities established by the government two years ago.
The post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was the third the university would be conducting since its establishment. The exam, which was held for eight days, was a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for all applicants, who scored not less than 180 in UTME. The institution’s management showed its magnanimity by extending invitation to applicants, who did not choose the school as their first or second choice.
The university, which has campuses in Oye and Ikole-Ekiti, chose Oye as the centre for the exercise held in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre. The centre hosts over 700 computers. The examination was held in batches.
The exercise took many applicants by surprise. Many candidates complained that they did not see the timetable to know when to write the test. Others said the test did not go according to the timetable released by the school.
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that candidates who had issues with the timetable were those who filled in for English and Literary Studies.
Adeola Adeleke, a candidate, said: “I never knew they were going to start the examination as it was stated on the timetable. But, thank God I was not late for the test.”
The candidates, before going into the examination centre, had their documents checked to prevent impersonation and to bar candidates that scored below 180 from participating in the exercise.
Policemen and officers of the Civil Defence Corps were on ground to ensure security and maintain law and order.
The exercise was not without hiccups as some candidates complained of their inability to upload their thumb print during the registration, a development that made many to go to the school days before the exercise.
Adenike Olanrewaju said: “I had to travel to this place from Lagos because of this problem. This gave me the opportunity to participate in the CBT training class. I was able to rectify it before the test.”
The post-UTME also boosted business activities in Oye. Residents made good sales, servicing the applicants in various ways. A food vendor, who identified herself as Iya Ibeji, said she has the greatest sale period whenever the university held its post-UTME because of the large number of people who patronise her cafeteria.
On the number of applicants, Omobola Omoboriowo, 200-Level Theatr Arts, said: “This is good news for the university. If 10 per cent of them can be admitted, it will increase the number of students on campus and Oye Town will be livelier.”
Another student, who did not say his name, said: “Even if not many of the candidates are admitted, the fact remains that facilities in the school are not enough. This is the area the management needs to look into.”
Mariam Olowoporoku, a candidate, said: “After I saw the facilities on the campus, I don’t think I want to come here anymore, because the school lacks enough lecture rooms. I used the test to practise so that I can perform when I go to write post-UTME in institutions I chose as first and second choice.”
The chief examiner and the Dean of Social Science, Prof Rasaki Ojo, said the exercise was successful. “We were able to manage the crowd of applicants that came for the test. We also took a step further by making sure we solved cases of candidates that had problem with online registration. This made it easy for many of them,” he said.
On the hiccups experienced by applicants, the Dean said no invention was totally reliable, saying: “We have one or two hitches with the computers, which we hope to work on next time. But on the whole, I would score my team excellence considering the serenity and excellent nature the examination was conducted.”
A staff, who worked with the security department, said: “It was not easy to organise such exercise but it came out to be successful.”
