FG directs UNILAG to halt convocation

The 51st convocation of the University of Lagos, scheduled to commence on March 9, has been suspended, according to an official statement signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Oladejo Azeez, Esq.

This would be the university's second consecutive postponement of a scheduled convocation after the 50th convocation also suffered the same fate in February 2018.

The statement read, "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."

However, in contrast to the university's statement, Punch reported that the postponement was ordered by the Federal Ministry of Education.

A leaked memo showed that the Ministry of Education asked the National Universities Commission to instruct UNILAG to postpone the convocation over an allegation that the university’s Governing Council did not approve the programme.

The memo addressed to the Executive Secretary of the NUC, read, "The attention of the honourable minister has been drawn to the attached copy of a 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."

Punch