University of Lagos convocation
earlier scheduled to take place between Thursday (today) and Saturday
has been postponed indefinitely.
Though the university did not state any reason for the postponement, sources claimed that the development followed President Goodluck Jonathan’s insistence to rename UNILAG as Moshood Abiola University of Lagos and effect the change in its certificates as a condition for holding the convocation.
Jonathan on May 29, 2012 renamed UNILAG after the late Chief Moshood Abiola as a mark of honour for the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The announcement was greeted by protests, with the students demonstrating, and the alumni association asking a Federal High Court, Lagos to restrain the Federal Government from renaming the institution.
But the university, our correspondent learnt, had been insistent on retaining its name pending the outcome of different suits filed in court.
Sources close to UNILAG authorities told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Wednesday that the university decided to postpone the convocation because the President said he would not attend the convocation except the name change was effected.
Our correspondent learnt that the institution sent a letter informing the President as the Visitor to the university about the convocation through the Federal Ministry of Education since last year.
Jonathan, it was learnt, told the ministry that UNILAG was not known to him and as such would not honour the invitation.
It was learnt that the Vice-Chancellor of the school, Prof. Rahamon Bello, had travelled to Abuja to meet with the minister over the issue.
An official of the school’s Information Office, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on condition of anonymity, said, “There is no truth in that. Normally if you pick a date for convocation, you have to send it to the Visitor and the Visitor will confirm if the date is convenient, that is what is happening in this case; it is nothing strange.”
Asked when the ceremony would hold, the source said, “I don’t know yet. I guess by tomorrow there could be a specific thing to say on the date.’’
In challenging the name change, the alumni association claimed that the President erred in renaming the institution without following due process, explaining that since the university was established by an act of parliament, the President could not unilaterally rename it.
But the President sent a bill to the National Assembly asking it to effect the name change. The bill passed through the first and second reading at the Senate before the court stopped the Federal Government from further action until the determination of the case before it.
“This position was enough a sign for the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquayat Rufa’i, not to reply the university,” the source said.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr. Oluwatoyin Adegbule, said, “’The authorities of UNILAG wish to inform all members of the university community and the general public that the golden jubilee convocation ceremonies will not hold at the university’s normal convocation period (January 17-19, 2013).”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayThough the university did not state any reason for the postponement, sources claimed that the development followed President Goodluck Jonathan’s insistence to rename UNILAG as Moshood Abiola University of Lagos and effect the change in its certificates as a condition for holding the convocation.
Jonathan on May 29, 2012 renamed UNILAG after the late Chief Moshood Abiola as a mark of honour for the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
The announcement was greeted by protests, with the students demonstrating, and the alumni association asking a Federal High Court, Lagos to restrain the Federal Government from renaming the institution.
But the university, our correspondent learnt, had been insistent on retaining its name pending the outcome of different suits filed in court.
Sources close to UNILAG authorities told our correspondent in a telephone interview on Wednesday that the university decided to postpone the convocation because the President said he would not attend the convocation except the name change was effected.
Our correspondent learnt that the institution sent a letter informing the President as the Visitor to the university about the convocation through the Federal Ministry of Education since last year.
Jonathan, it was learnt, told the ministry that UNILAG was not known to him and as such would not honour the invitation.
It was learnt that the Vice-Chancellor of the school, Prof. Rahamon Bello, had travelled to Abuja to meet with the minister over the issue.
An official of the school’s Information Office, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on condition of anonymity, said, “There is no truth in that. Normally if you pick a date for convocation, you have to send it to the Visitor and the Visitor will confirm if the date is convenient, that is what is happening in this case; it is nothing strange.”
Asked when the ceremony would hold, the source said, “I don’t know yet. I guess by tomorrow there could be a specific thing to say on the date.’’
In challenging the name change, the alumni association claimed that the President erred in renaming the institution without following due process, explaining that since the university was established by an act of parliament, the President could not unilaterally rename it.
But the President sent a bill to the National Assembly asking it to effect the name change. The bill passed through the first and second reading at the Senate before the court stopped the Federal Government from further action until the determination of the case before it.
“This position was enough a sign for the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqquayat Rufa’i, not to reply the university,” the source said.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr. Oluwatoyin Adegbule, said, “’The authorities of UNILAG wish to inform all members of the university community and the general public that the golden jubilee convocation ceremonies will not hold at the university’s normal convocation period (January 17-19, 2013).”
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Must he attend? He should better remain at Abuja instead of causing hold-up all over Lagos. - AJ
ReplyDeleteplease equip our higher institutions instead of renaming
ReplyDeleteIs his presence needed at the convocation? Unilag doesn't need the president, let him attend to his wife.
ReplyDeleteIf they so much love Abiola, the aclaim winner of 1993 general ellection give him a place to occupy in Abuja the center of government and not Lagos.He won national ellection and not state or local government ellection period,people deceived people. Anyway no matter the amount of deceit we the good people of Nigeria knows were Abiola bellong to.We wil have enough patient 2015 is very near the corner.
ReplyDeleteMR PRESIDENT,THE STATE OF THE NATION AND THE SECURITY OF THE GOOD PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT NATION IS PARAMONT TO RENAMING UNILAG...
ReplyDeleteIs he rather insane? he should go tomOtuoke and rename Bayelsa University. That is what you get when you vote in a man that does nt have shoes....who says this man even have brains? The school should go ahead and do the Convocation without him.
ReplyDeleteI am so suprised that Yoruba race cannot even celebrate themselves. I am sure if this issue happens in d north or south, there will be no ranchor. Who is/are school authority or students to challenge? Any student who is aggrieved should quit d school. Abiola is worth it. And it is not too much to name d school after him. What is d problems of some yorubas who want to slay commitment of an icon on d altar of hatred and polical differences? All students from other tribes that are carrying placards should go back to their villages. Abiola was an Icon in yoruba race and he deserves d honor. If u re aggrieved pls go back to ur village.
ReplyDeleteYoruba does not need that if we need it we know the way to approach it.There is an institution bearing Moshood Abiola ,so what is the President's problem?He should address Nigerian educational structure where Nigerians spent over N600 billion as a school fees in Ghana and we cannot boast of good education in Nigeria and He called himself a PhD holder.Tell me what is the rational behind it
ReplyDelete