The much awaited golden jubilee of the University of Lagos’
convocation, scheduled to hold between Thursday (today) and Saturday has been
postponed indefinitely.
Though, the reason for the postponement was not disclosed to
the public, sources claim that the development was caused by President Goodluck
Jonathan’s insistence to rename UNILAG as Moshood Abiola
University of Lagos and to also effect a change in its certificates as a condition for holding the convocation.
Also the alumni Association of the institution asked the
Federal High Court, Lagos to restrain the Federal Government from renaming the
institution.
But the university had been adamant on retaining its name
pending the outcome of different suits filed in court.
It is gathered that the President as the Visitor to the
institution was informed about the convocation through the Federal Ministry of
Education since last year but he responded through the Ministry that UNILAG was
not known to him and as such would not honour the invitation.
Hence, UNILAG authorities decided to postpone the
convocation.
A reliable source said that the Vice-Chancellor of the
school, Prof. Rahamon Bello, had travelled to Abuja to meet with the Minister
over the issue.
However, an official of the school’s Information Office,
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.”
