Gbenro Adesina
The University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has announced its intention to boycott the 2020 convocation and 72nd Foundation Day Ceremonies of the Premier University, scheduled for Friday 13 to Tuesday 17 November, 2020.
The Union made this known in a special release addressed to its members, dated November 9, 2020 and signed by the Chairperson, Professor Ayoola Akinwole.
The release titled, “Boycott of UI 2020 Convocation and 72nd Foundation Day Ceremonies”, reads in parts:
The notice for the University of Ibadan 2020 Graduation and 72nd Foundation Day Ceremonies came to our attention on Saturday 7th November, 2020. The positions of the Unions on the planned ceremonies are as follows:
“In the spirit of the current ASUU strike, holding graduation ceremonies at this time would be a violation of the principle of the ongoing strike and may compromise the few gains of the current struggle to rescue public university education in Nigeria. To the best of our knowledge, there was no request for a waiver for such to take place in the University of Ibadan.
“Recall item 6 in strike Bulletin 12 of July 6, 2020, which states that All ASUU members are reminded that there shall be no teaching, no examination and no faculty/department board, etc, no admissions meeting, no matriculation and no convocation during the ongoing strike action.
“In line with the principles and practice of our union and in obedience to the NEC directive on this matter, members of ASUU, University of Ibadan Branch, are advised not to be in attendance or participate in the preparation for, and the actualisation of the said Convocation and 72nd Foundation Day Ceremonies.
A people united can never be defeated”.
