FG suspends UNILAG convocation

Opeyemi Adelere

The management of the University of Lagos has suspended the university convocation scheduled to hold from March 9-12, 2020.

A circular signed by the institution’s Registrar, Mr. Oladejo Azeez, and released on the institution’s website, announced the suspension four days after the university’s vice chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, held a press conference on the 51st convocation in Lagos.

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“The Management of the University of Lagos regrets to inform the general public that the 51st (2019) Convocation Ceremonies earlier scheduled to hold from Monday 9th to Thursday 12th March 2020, has been postponed. Any inconvenience occasioned by this postponement is highly regretted”, it read.

However, a leaked memo addressed to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Sonny Ochono, noted that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the University, Dr. Wale Babalakin, had informed the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, in a letter dated March 2, 2020, that the programme was not approved by the Governing Council.

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“The attention of the honourable minister has been drawn to the attached copy of letter dated 2nd of March 2020 from the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. B.O. Babalakin to the effect that the 2019 convocation ceremonies were not approved by the Governing Council in line with the laws of the University. I am to, therefore, request that you kindly advise the Vice-Chancellor to suspend the convocation and ensure full compliance with due process,” the memo noted.

Recall that the university management and the Governing Council have been on loggerheads over the management of the institution in recent times.