The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Professor AbdulGaniyu Ambali, has described the latest Webometric ranking of world universities that ranked the university as the best in Nigeria as a product of hard work and dedication to service of every member of the university community.

In the 2014 University Web Ranking conducted by International Colleges and Universities (4ICU) and released last Tuesday, Unilorin was also adjudged the 20th best university in Africa and 1842nd in the world.

The 4ICU is an international higher education search engine and directory that constantly reviews accredited universities and colleges across the world.

For the latest exercise, it ranked about 11,307 colleges and universities by web popularity in over 200 countries.

A statement by the university's Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun, at the weekend in Ilorin, quoted the Vice-Chancellor as expressing delight over the new ranking, describing it as "one of the best so far by any university in Nigeria."

The vice-chancellor then urged all academic and non-academic staff to continue to put in their best in the service of the university.

"The latest university ranking is a significant leap for the Unilorin which has moved from its last year's fifth position in Nigeria and 56th in Africa to first and 20th positions respectively," the statement said.

With the new ranking, Unilorin's status as the nation's number one university has been given an international confirmation.

Statistics released recently by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) after the last Universities Matriculations Examination (UME) showed that the university of Ilorin was the most subscribed university by admission seekers in the country with a total of over 105,000 candidates seeking to enter the university in 2014/2015 academic session.

The University of Benin, Benin City, came second in this respect with about 76,000 admission seekers.

Since 2011, Unilorin has maintained a steady rise among most preferred institutions by admission seekers in the country. In 2011, it ranked eighth; it ranked fifth in 2012; second in 2013 and first this year.

In the 2014 University Web Ranking, the University of Lagos came second in Nigeria and 21st in Africa while the third position goes to Obafemi Awolowo University, which also comes 26th in Africa.

Also on the ranking table are: the University of Ibadan came fourth in Nigeria and 38th in Africa; the Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State, fifth in Nigeria and 59th in Africa; Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, sixth in Nigeria and 63rd in Africa; the Federal University, Minna, seventh in Nigeria and 71st in Africa; the University of Benin, eighth in Nigeria and 82nd in Africa; the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, ninth in Nigeria and 87th in Africa; and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 10th in Nigeria and 89th in Africa.