After IPOB Warning, Fear Grips Nigerian University, Reschedules Convocation Ceremony
The Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka, Anambra State, has bowed to the warning by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as it has rescheduled its convocation ceremony earlier billed to hold on May 30.
The institution had fixed May 30 and 31 for its 18th convocation ceremony and award of degrees to its graduates and postgraduates.
But Ibom Focus earlier reported that IPOB in an open letter to the Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK and the management of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) on Tuesday warned the institutions against holding the convocation ceremony and WAEC exams on May 30.
IPOB said that May 30 has been selected by for its Biafra Remembrance Day to honour Nigerians of South-East extraction killed during the 1967-70 civil war.
Declaring May 30 a sit-at-home day across the region, IPOB warned UNIZIK and WAEC not to endanger people’s lives by disobeying its order, stressing that UNIZIK and WAEC should reschedule their convocation and examinations to a new date “because 30th of May is the Biafra Heroes Day and a sit-at-home for all Biafrans in the Biafra Land”.
However, the UNIZIK management denied that it rescheduled the convocation ceremony date because of the IPOB threats.
The university stated that the adjustment was made because the original date coincided with the federal government’s swearing-in of the new Governing Council of the institution on May 30, noting that the event had been rescheduled to only May 31.
The special adviser on special duties and media to the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Emma Ojukwu, made the adjustment of the convocation ceremony date known in a statement made available to journalists in Awka on Wednesday.
Ojukwu said, “The Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka wishes to inform all the graduands, friends of the University, the University Community and the general public that the 18th convocation ceremony of the University earlier scheduled to hold on the 30 and 31 of May, 2024 has now been rescheduled to only May 31, 2024.
“The reason for the rescheduling is because of the federal government’s appointment of new Governing Council members who will be inaugurated in Abuja on May 30, 2024.
“As the University Management is expected to be present in the inauguration in Abuja, it was considered necessary and inevitable to adjust the convocation ceremony date to only May 31, 2024 for all activities of the 2024 18™ convocation ceremony.
“All activities involving the undergraduate, postgraduate, award of honorary degrees and the convocation lecture will now hold on May 31, 2024.
“All graduands and the public are to note this information and disregard any other information not emanating from the University. The University Management regrets any inconvenience this adjustment will cause.”
