President Muhammadu Buhari is due to attend the University of Ilorin’s first ‘special’ convocation in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria.
Kunle Akogun, the University of Ilorin’s director of business relations, made the announcement on Sunday.
According to Akogun, the event will be the institution’s 36th convocation ceremony, which will be conducted in the main auditorium rather than the stadium where the 35th convocation ceremony was held.
He further stated that the convocation will begin on October 15 with a special Juma’at ceremony at the varsity’s central mosque.
Akogun added that the Juma’at prayer would be followed by an interdenominational church service at St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy at the University’s main campus on October 17.
He said the main events of the ceremony would formally commence on October 18 with the vice-chancellor’s briefing.
“This will be followed on Oct. 21, by the Convocation Play, entitled ‘Aadoye’ (No secret anywhere – A South African Dance Interpretation) by Steve James, Choreographed by Felix Akinsipe, at the institution’s Performing Arts Theatre at 4 p.m and 6 p.m, respectively.
“This year’s Convocation Lecture comes up on Oct. 22, to be delivered by a distinguished legal luminary, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN), entitled: ‘Tertiary Education and the Future of Nigeria’.
“The grand finale comes up on Saturday, Oct. 23, with the Convocation for the Award of Prizes, First and Postgraduate Degrees and Diplomas from all the 15 Faculties and the Postgraduate,” The statement read in part.
Akogun also disclosed that attendance at the main convocation event on October 23 would be restricted to only graduands with 1st class degree honours, prize winners, and doctoral awardees.
Akogun said Buhari, who is a visitor to the institution, will attend the convocation alongside Adamu Adamu, the minister of education, and other prominent figures.