By Damola Emmanuel
The University of Lagos, Thursday, announced the postponement of its 49th convocation ceremonies, scheduled for between Monday, March 9, 2020, and March 12.
The institution made the announcement through a two-paragraph press statement issued by its registrar and secretary to council, Mr. Oladejo I. Azeez.
The university didn’t give any reason for the sudden postponement of the epochal event. But it regretted any inconveniences the temporary shift might cause those concerned.
The Crest, however, learnt that the cancellation was triggered by a power tussle between the university council and its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr. Wale Babalakin.
The university’s Vice Chanellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, had, only on Monday, intimated the media about the highlights of the convocation ceremonies.
One of the high points of the event was a convocation lecture which he said would be delivered by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Mr. Isa Pantami.
The immediate past President of Ghana, Mr. John Drammani Mahama, a communication expert, historian, and writer, had been pencilled to deliver the lecture. But the ex-president reportedly turned down the invitation when he learnt that Nigeria’s Communication Minister had also been given the role.
However, the last straw was a letter which the Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Babalakin, reportedly wrote to the Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu, complaining that the university never followed due process in making the decision.
In the March 2, 2020 letter, Dr. Babalakin insisted that the convocation activities were not approved by the governing council of the university. Based on that, he urged the Minister to stop the event.
Consequently, Minister Adamu ordered the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sunny Echonu, wrote to the National Universities Commission, NUC, to suspend the convocation.
“The attention of the Honourable Minister has been drawn to the attached copy of the letter dated 2nd of March 2020 from the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council to the effect that the 2019 Convocation Ceremonies were not approved by the Governing Council in line with the laws of the University,” the statement read.
“I am to, therefore, request that you kindly advise the Vice Chancellor to suspend the Convocation and ensure full compliance with due process.”
