Monday 28 January 2013

‘Why UNILAG convocation was postponed’


‘Why UNILAG convocation was postponed’
by: Kofoworola Belo-Osagie  University of Lagos (UNILAG) Vice-Chancellor, Prof Rahamon Bello, has denied claims that the institution’s convocation, traditionally held in January, was postponed because of the change of name controversy.
Clarifying issues at a briefing on Monday to announce the new dates of the convocation now holding February 5-8, Bello said the university did not meet all the conditions stipulated by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Abuja, for approval to hold the convocation resulting in its postponement.
“Normally UNILAG convocation holds mid-January. There are conditions laid before you can go and announce your convocation. You must give adequate notice, a minimum of eight weeks; the speech for Visitor must be ready; your certificates must be ready. Unfortunately this year by the time we put our information to the Visitor for approval, we were short of time. We had not got the approval before we fixed a date,” he said.
A national daily (not The Nation) had reported that the convocation was postponed because President Goodluck Jonathan was insisting that the university adopt the new name (Moshood Abiola University of Lagos, MAULAG) he announced during his last Democracy Day address.
The President’s decision was challenged by the alumni association of the university in the court of law which ruled that the status quo should remain until the Act establishing the university is amended.
The procedure for amendment has already been sent to the National Assembly and has passed the second reading.
Prof Bello said he was confident the name will not be changed and assured graduating students that their certificates would bear the old name.
TheNation

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