By Abdullah Oladejo

For many students and graduates of the University of Ibadan, an academic transcript is more than just a document; it is vital evidence substantiating their academic history at the institution.

Besides corroborating students’ academic performance, transcripts are required for various opportunities, including scholarship applications, postgraduate admissions, job opportunities, interdepartmental transfers, and international programs.

Despite being vital to their academic endeavors, students often face difficulties obtaining their transcripts due to alleged negligence by some departments within the university.

Several University of Ibadan students who spoke to IndyPress complained about the situation, with some lamenting that the delay in disbursement has cost them significant opportunities, including scholarships.

Academic transcripts are viewed by many as the most comprehensive reflection of their academic records, with some considering them more reliable and authentic than the traditional “Book of Life,” which contains their CGPA.

“Students depend heavily on transcripts because they provide a complete picture of academic performance,” said one student who requested anonymity.

In 2022, IndyPress highlighted these issues in an article titled “Collecting Transcripts in UI: Do Students Have It Easy?”, which detailed the bureaucratic process students underwent. Despite these concerns, delays in collection and other related issues persist.

Speaking to IndyPress, Tayo, a 400-level Medical Laboratory Science student, said he spent more than three weeks processing his transcript while attempting to fulfill requirements for a transfer application.

His experience involved repeated movement between offices and futile efforts to obtain favorable responses from administrative staff.

Another student, Adebola, explained that she struggled to correct errors on her transcript dating back to her 100-level session. According to her, her repeated complaints yielded little immediate response, as she was constantly redirected from one office to another.

A recent graduate of the Department of Mathematics, Lanre Wale (not his real name), alleged that students in his department had been required to pay for transcript collection since their 300-level year.

“It is frustrating and concerning for many of us because some students cannot afford the fees, making it difficult for them to access their academic records,” he said.

Lanre also raised concerns about inconsistencies in charges across departments. According to him, students in some departments pay lower amounts than others.

“The money is paid into a personal account linked to the department. I can’t disclose the name, but it is certainly meant for the department’s purse,” he alleged.

Similarly, Kayode, a student from the Faculty of Law, recounted how class representatives requested ₦200 from students to obtain their transcripts in PDF format.

“Initially, we did not pay for transcripts in the Faculty of Law. However, at the beginning of this session, when we wanted to collect transcripts for the 2024/2025 academic session, our class representatives asked us to pay ₦200. Some of us challenged it, but others dismissed it as a small amount. When we asked students in other levels whether they were also charged, they said they were not. We were unsure whether the directive came from the faculty,” Kayode told IndyPress.

Likewise, Ayo Fawaz, a 400-level student in the Department of Civil Engineering who paid ₦1,000 to obtain his transcript, believed the payment was unreasonable.

“If the amount does not exceed ₦1,000, I think it is still normal. It only becomes a problem when it goes beyond that. Students often use transcripts to apply for scholarships, and compared to what many people spend on mobile data, the amount is relatively small,” he said.

Another student from the Department of Mathematics also described the payment as normal, arguing that perceptions of exploitation may depend on what students in other departments are charged.

“You can only see it as extortion when you know what other departments are paying. There are advantages we enjoy in our department that students in some other departments do not. For instance, departmental registration is very seamless in my department,” he said.

Students believe the persistence of these issues reflects broader concerns about accountability, administrative transparency, and student welfare within public universities.

Experts argue that academic documentation should be managed through efficient, transparent, and standardized procedures because of its direct impact on students’ futures.

A delayed transcript can result in the loss of scholarship opportunities, failed transfer applications, or another year of uncertainty.

Frustrated by the persistent issue, some students urged the university to fully digitize transcript processing, eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, standardize procedures across departments, and investigate allegations of unofficial charges linked to transcript requests.

“I would respectfully appeal to the university authorities to review the policy with students’ financial realities in mind. Transcript requests are often tied to important opportunities, and making the process more affordable and uniform across departments would greatly support students,” one student advised.

Meanwhile, as of press time, all attempts to interview the University Students’ Union Vice President, Miss Glory Salawu, proved abortive as she has yet to respond to follow-up messages.

Until then, many students fear that access to one of the most important documents of their academic journey will remain trapped within a system they describe as slow, stressful, and uncertain.