FULafia VC Prof. Shehu Rahman Charges universities to resist external pressures capable of derailing regular convocations
Abdul Rahman identifies bane of regular convocations, Abdul Rahman, therefore, called on universities to resist external pressures capable of derailing them from their main academic functions,
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Abdul Rahman identifies bane of regular convocations, Abdul Rahman, therefore, called on universities to resist external pressures capable of derailing them from their main academic functions,
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia), Professor Shehu Abdul Rahman, has decried the irregular holding of convocations in the nation’s universities, blaming the situation on innovations and undue external influences.
Abdul Rahman listed among the innovations to include the practice of involving political actors in convocation activities, lamenting that rather than obeying the academic traditions of universities, politicians, often, tend to manipulate the activity to promote their political interest.
The vice-chancellor, who made his observations known through a speech he delivered while inaugurating the University’s Ceremonials Committee, urged universities to resist external pressures and conduct their academic businesses “the way they are supposed to be conducted.”
He said that a situation where time fixed for commencement of convocation activities is not respected because of late arrival of some invited political dignitaries should no longer be tolerated, pointing out that “convocation is our event and we determine how it shall be conducted and the time it should be conducted.”
Abdul Rahman, therefore, called on universities to resist external pressures capable of derailing them from their main academic functions, tasking the chairpersons and members of the Ceremonials Committees to carry out their duties in an organised and systematic fashion and avoid randomness.
He warned members against allowing those he referred to “unknown persons” to take away their responsibilities, saying: “You must not allow outsiders during convocation to distract us or hijack our responsibilities.”
He urged them to follow the established guidelines governing the holding of ceremonial academic activities in the University, adding: “The culture of our University must be respected and there must be uniformity in all aspects.”
While urging the members to work hard for the success of the assignments given to them, he disclosed that training programmes would be organised to educate them on how to operate.
He thanked the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of the Ceremonials Committee, Professor Idris Amali, and the Registrar, Malam Nuradeen Abdu, for working hard to constitute membership of the sub-committees.
In his opening remarks, Amali thanked the vice-chancellor for the confidence reposed in them to carry out the responsibility, calling on the members to be committed to the assignment.
In his closing remarks, Abdu thanked Abdul Rahman and the University Bursar, Daniel Wilson, Librarian, Dr Abiodun iyoro, for attending the committee’s inauguration event and prayed to God for successful holding of ceremonies.
