Gbenro Adesina
As the 2021 Convocation Ceremonies of the University of Ibadan (UI), begins on Monday November 15, 2021, its management has reiterated that “attendance at the International Conference Centre, the venue of the ceremony is open to only First Class Honours graduands and recipients of prizes and awards only”, urging other classes of graduands and stakeholders to join the ceremonies through the provided zoom link and other social media platforms.
The Premier University explained, “As earlier stated, the University’s management takes this seemingly painful decision in order to curtail and contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, and its delta variant which is virulent, during the period of graduation ceremony”.
In a statement signed by the institutions Director of Communication, Tunji Oladejo, the institution stated, “We are using this category of graduates as a point of contact with over 8,000 graduates at this year’s ceremony. We could have invited graduates in the third class or pass division. We appreciate our stakeholders for their understanding and co-operation in this circumstance”.
The statement refuted the information being circulated by an online medium to the effect that “the institution will allow non-first class graduates at this year’s graduation ceremony”.
“The said publication is mischievous, deceitful, misleading, unreliable and irresponsible. Graduates, parents, guardians and the general public are advised to disregard the publication”, the statement stated.
The ceremonies end on Wednesday November 17, 2021 with the Foundation Day and graduation of doctoral students.