By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

All is now set for the combined 37th and 38th convocation ceremonies of the University of Ilorin, the first time in decades that the country’s most sought-after University would be graduating two sets of students simultaneously.

Both the graduates of the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions would be receiving their First degrees, Postgraduate degrees and Diplomas during the three-day long ceremonies holding at the University’s Main Auditorium between Friday, October 20 and Monday, October 23, 2023.

The ceremonial preliminaries, which kicked off last Friday (October 13, 2023) with a Special Jumaat Service at the University Central Mosque, also included an Interdenominational Service on Sunday, October 15, 2023 at Chapel of the Light, University of Ilorin.

A copy of the programme schedule signed by the University Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, and made available to newsmen last weekend by the University’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, showed that the main event will formally start this Wednesday as the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, would be addressing a World Press Conference at the University Auditorium where he would be spotlighting the convocation events and highlight some of his achievements in the past one year in the saddle.

The performing troupe of the institution’s Department of the Performing Arts would present the Convocation Drama entitled “Jeong Do-Jeon (The Clash of Power)”, a Korean drama written by Jung Hyun-MIN at the Performing Arts Theatre of the University between 4.00pm and 6.00pm on Thursday, October 19, 2023.

A major highlight of the Convocation ceremonies is the Convocation Lecture to be delivered by Nigeria-born USA-based renowned Professor of History, Tayo Falola, on Friday, October 20, 2023 at the University Auditorium at 9.45a.m. The distinguished Historian who lectures at the Department of History, University of Texas, Austin, United States of America would be speaking on “Modernity, Modernisation and Values”.

This will be followed immediately by the graduation of the 2020/2021 graduands of 4-year and 5-year academic programmes at the same venue from 11.00a.m to 1.00p.m. The schedule also indicated that Saturday (October 21, 2023) would be the Convocation Day II for the conferment of degrees and honours on all the 2021/2022 graduands of 4-year and 5-year academic programmes between 9.00a.m and 11.00a.m at the University Auditorium. Monday, October 23, 2023 will be the grand finale with the graduation of the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 6-year programmes as well as Postgraduate graduands would be convocating between 9.00a.m and 12.30p.m. Immediately after the convocation, the Visitor to the University, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be commissioning some projects recently completed by the University administration.

This will be followed by the convocation luncheon and presentation of merit awards to deserving members of staff of the University at the University’s Multipurpose Hall by 4.00p.m.According to the Programme schedule, another special Jumaat service would be held at the UNILORIN Central Mosque on Friday, October 27, 2023 while the ceremonies would be brought to an end with a Thanksgiving Service at St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy, University of Ilorin on Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 9.00a.m.

Mr Akogun, who assured that the authorities of the University would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the events are hitch free, advised staff members of the University, graduands and their parents as well as well-wishers and members of the general public to conduct themselves in the best of manners for all the events to hold peacefully as scheduled