UNILAG @ 60: Campus Up In Colours

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) celeberates 60 years of standing. Akoka campus of the University of Lagos lit up in different beautiful colour, activities kicked off from the UNILAG Sports Centre.

The Akoka campus of the University of Lagos was engulfed in euphoria for several hours on Thursday, June 22, 2023, as students of the Creative Arts Department rolled out the drums for the 2023 Africaribbean Carnival.

Though meant to serve as a continuous assessment in some courses for students in 200 and 300 levels, this year’s Africaribbean Carnival was dedicated to commemorating the year-long Diamond Jubilee anniversary of the university.

The Road-March

Activities kicked off from the UNILAG Sports Centre where the students who had been grouped into five (5) Africaribbean countries namely Bahamas, Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, took to the Dan Fodio Boulevard flying the colors and costumes of the different countries they represent.

From the Sports Centre, the procession, in a carnival-like manner, made its way to the UNILAG Senate House with music, dancing and cheering to showcase the five (5) Africaribbean countries.

The parade was received at the Senate House by some principal officers of the university led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa who congratulated the entire staff and students of the Creative Arts Department on the colorful outing.

The Africaribbean Carnival, according to Prof. Atsenuwa, showcases one of the many beauties which UNILAG has to offer as a leading institution in the teaching, promotion and preservation of arts, culture and tradition.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor said the Africaribbean carnival also underscores the university management’s commitment to blending theoretical teachings with contemporary activities.

From the Senate House, the procession made its way through the Faculty of Arts Building to link the Tafawa Balewa road down to the Ransom Kuti junction (Eco Bank Junction down to Medical Centre) through Akin Adesola road to D.L.I. roundabout. The carnival continued through Commercial road to back to Dan Fodio Boulevard (i.e. D.L.I. to Access Bank) and returned to the UNILAG Sports Centre.

The road march which lasted over 3 hours saw the Creative Arts students becoming the cynosure of all eyes as they kept the entire campus community electrified with their entertaining performances.

At The Indoor Sports Arena

The road march over, action shifted to the Indoor sports arena where the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, led other members of management to identify with the ceremony.

In her remarks, Prof. Ogunsola applauded the rank and file of the of the Creative Arts Department for dedicating the 2023 Africaribbean Carnival to celebrate the university’s 60th anniversary.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that UNILAG has, for the past 60 years recorded monumental strides and made indelible impacts across all spheres of human endeavor, nationally and globally.

While assuring of management’s resolve to keep promoting the university’s reputation of being the hallmark of all-round excellence, Prof. Ogunsola said the UNILAG at 60 anniversary remains a celebration of innovation, creativity, bravery, remarkable success stories as well as national and global impacts.

The audience which was made up of students and alumni of the creative arts department were treated to various performances by all participating teams.

First was the Mass Awareness Show (MAS) which centered on the dangers of deforestation, indiscriminate handling of refuse and other environmentally unfriendly activities perpetrated by humans. The MAS performance pressed home the urgent need for emission control, promotion of afforestation, environmental preservation and circular economy.

Other activities included costume parade, Knowledge of Country and the Grand Performance.

Celebrating an Icon

A major feature of the 2023 Africaribbean Carnival was a special commemorative session held to honour and celebrate a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services and UNILAG Gold Medalist, Professor Duro Oni.

He was conferred with an award of Life-Patron of the UNILAG Africaribbean Carnival in acknowledgment of his decades of mentorship, support and inputs which helped to grow the UNILAG Africaribbean carnival into its present state.

Team Bahamas Tops Medals Table

After all the electrifying performances, teams were graded and scored by the panel of judges based on their performances in various categories.

The chart saw Team Bahamas soaring over and above other teams, having garnered a total of 171 points to lift the trophy as the overall winner of the 2023 UNILAG Africaribbean Carnival. The team also clinched the newly unveiled crowns for the UNILAG Africaribbean Carnival Road Show Monarchs, as well as won in the National Anthem, MAS Play and Carnival Road March categories.

Team Bahamas however shared the second position with Team Jamaica in the Knowledge of Country contest.

Team Jamaica emerged as the first runner-up with a total of 147 points, Team Trinidad and Tobago came third with 144 points, Team Brazil garnered 137 points to clinch the fourth position while Team Cuba pulled 131 points hence earned the fifth spot on the medals table.

The UNILAG Africaribbean Carnival was initiated in 2005 by Dr. Cornel Best-Onyekaba as a template to showcase and appreciate the diversity of cultures of Africaribbean countries. In 2012, the UNILAG Africaribbean Carnival was adopted by the University’s Governing Council and Senate as a pivotal event to mark the university’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. 

MySchoolNews reporting.