The management of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has denied exploiting the graduating class of 2020/2021 who were told to top-up their convocation fee and pay for memorabilia charges.
The institution made this declaration in a statement by the director of Corporate Affairs, Kunle Akogun, on Tuesday, adding that the management has the right to determine what materials are necessary and at the most reasonable rates for its students or graduates.
It partly read, “The attention of the Management of the University of Ilorin has been drawn to a social media news report on a planned protest by a group of former students of the University with respect to some convocation items they are expected to have.
“These are their personal effects and necessary commemoratory mementos for the successful completion of their programmes at the University.”
The graduates protested the alleged extortion by the institution in the forthcoming combined 37th and 38th convocation ceremony billed to be held October 20 and 21 citing short notice, and the country’s economic situation, among others.
In a memo dated October 3, 2023, obtained with ref number: UIL/UCSC/131 on Monday, the institution introduced memorabilia which includes branded T-shirts, scrolls, and lapel pins for graduates at the rate of N10,000.
But UNILORIN faulted the action of the protesting graduates, noting that they should have demonstrated a knowledge of the prevailing economic reality in the country and appreciated the good disposition of the University management in arriving at this rate, which the university described as its “lowest possible”.
The management also asserted that the “misguided individuals” are only protesting for their primordial and selfish reasons while emphasizing that a large number of the graduates have paid for the items and convocation.
However, the University failed to address the alleged convocation top-up of N17,700 by the graduating class.
