VCs CONVOCATION SPEECH 14 NOVEMBER 2020 REVISED
VCs CONVOCATION SPEECH 14 NOVEMBER 2020 REVISED
VCs CONVOCATION SPEECH 14 NOVEMBER 2020 REVISED
CEREMONIES
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DAY 1: 14 NOVEMBER, 2020
2020
Registrar
The Bursar
University Librarian
Directors of Institutes
Heads of Departments
Members of Senate
Members of Congregation
Esteemed Graduands
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Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen
I am truly delighted and excited to welcome you all to the first day of our three-day
graduation ceremonies for this year, 2020. Though this year’s convocation ceremony has
been greatly hampered by the global outbreak of the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
and the protracted strike by staff unions, we remain nonetheless, grateful for the enduring
mercy of the Almighty God which has ensured that this day and event has come to reality. It
is also an epoch-making moment for me as this year’s convocation ceremonies would be the
last in my capacity as the 12th Vice Chancellor. I, once again, warmly welcome our parents,
guardians, guests and alumni as well as well-wishers to the 72nd Convocation Ceremonies of
This year, the University will be proudly awarding 111 Diplomas (Nursing Tutors and
Postgraduate), admitting 412 graduands into First Degrees, 220 graduands into
University of Ibadan, and another 24 Ph.D graduands from the Pan African
University/University of Ibadanthe first and still, the best. However, today is earmarked for
the admission into first degrees, of graduands across 17 Faculties, Distance Learning Centre
and Affiliated Institutions who have been trained, examined and undoubtedly found to be
worthy both in character and in learning. It is with utmost joy that I particularly welcome the
graduands and to celebrate with your families on this momentous achievement in your
academic journey. I belief that you are now well-equipped to make trailblazing contributions
towards solving the immeasurable socio-economic challenges threatening the delicate fabrics
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I charge you to go all out to do exploits in any field you may find yourselves and thereby,
project to the world, the endless opportunities and invaluable potentials entrenched in our
great nation. Our diversity, if only appropriately channelled, will lift our society to
unprecedented enviable heights. We all, with every sense of duty, must not only preach but
also practice, ‘unity in diversity’. Together, we are stronger, wiser, richer and better. We must
make our large population count for something admirable and enviable.
The vision of the University is derived solely from the pursuit of the national goals of unity
and development through innovation, knowledge creation, and dissemination, with a view to
learning and research programmes that would provide the required skills and platforms for an
enduring development process while also serving as a catalyst for the political, social and
In spite of the many enviable feats of our students over the years, they have chosen not to rest
on their oars, prompting them to work harder to reach even higher heights, not minding the
many debilitating local and global challenges experienced this year. At this occasion, I crave
your indulgence to blow our trumpet a little over a few of the incredible accomplishments
attained by our students in the areas of undergraduate academic activities and human capacity
in the Data Science Nigeria 2020 Boot Camp Competition. This feat he achieved
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● Richard Adeleke, a 500 level student of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, has been
selected by the Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine,
Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA to participate as a scholar in the 2020 Cornell
selected;
● Badiru Toheeb Adeniyi, Abideen Bolaji Olaide and Olubiyi Sulaiman Damilare, all
students of the Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering came 1st at the
2020 National Huawei ICT Competition. They also came 2nd at the Regional level of
performance at the 2020 Final Bar Examinations winning 28 out of the 38 prizes
available. The University also produced the Overall Best Graduating Student –
● Adelakun Temilade Ruth, 500 level – Department of Mechanical Engineering won the
● Five students from the Faculty of Agriculture won a grant of N397,000 from the Food
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iv. Sakirat Raji - Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
been appointed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin I. Emefiele,
CON, as the Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Centre for Economics and Finance at
the University of Ibadan. The appointment is for the period from 1stOctober 2020 till 30th
The University of Ibadan, this outgoing year has received tremendous goodwill, benevolence
and supports, which are listed separately in the Order of Proceedings. We express our
profound appreciation to our benefactors and pray that the good Lord will continue to elevate
I am very pleased to inform that the Faculty of Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of
Ibadan, took delivery of the long awaited 14 units of Dental Chairs (valued at Fourteen
Million Naira) & some dental journals in the early hours of Sunday, 8/11/2020. The 14
Dental Chairs & journals were donated by *Dr Evelyn Ofilli -Adelehin* of St Louis
Missouri, USA, a 1986 BDS alumni of the Faculty on behalf of Ofili-Adelehin family upon
request by Dr Elizabeth B Dosumu, as a classmate & a dear friend to improve the teaching of
The role of the former Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. O O Dosumu, the former
Provost College Medicine, Prof. Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa and former Deputy Provost
College of Medicine, Prof Obafunke Denloye in the eventual very hectic processes of the
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clearing and transportation from the Port to the Dental School Ibadan deserves to be very
much acknowledged.
It must be noted that the above dental chairs arrived at the Port in Lagos in April 2020 but
due to the COVID-19 lockdown they could not be delivered and hence charges for clearing of
the chairs, accumulated charges for demurrage at the Port, offloading from the container &
loading into the Ibadan bound truck at the port & final offloading at the Dental School Ibadan
& transportation to the Dental School at the very early hours of Sunday 8 November 2020 is
We congratulate Provost Olayinka Omigbodun and Dean Juliana Taiwo for this benefaction
partnership between UI and the Embassy of France in Nigeria and universities in France.
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There was a meeting on 14 May 2019 between the University of Ibadan School of Business
There was initiation of collaboration between UI and six other universities in Nigeria with the
French Embassy in Nigeria on the Innovation and Adaptation to Climate Change Project in
April 2019 with the visit of Dr Emmanuel Nymphas to the University of Grenoble, France
and a number of other meetings in Abuja, Nigeria. Six other researchers from UI were
subsequently nominated to take part in the research project, which is still ongoing. Total
The University of Ibadan was awarded a Fablab to UI. The letter of award was received on 4
September 2020 and the Fablab commissioned on 13 October 2020. Value is about 25, 000
Euros.
There is opportunity for 2-3 PhD students from UI to work on atmospheric pollution/
environmental pollution /environmental health science, etc, during some short scientific stays
in France. This is a component of the ongoing AIRACC project spearheaded by the Embassy
of France in Nigeria.
The French Embassy also offered assistance to develop a French Resource Centre in our
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Submission of externally audited accounts
The University of Ibadan was in the news for the wrong reason sometime ago because of
some issues ta=hat arose when we appeared at the National Assembly before the Public
Accounts of the House of Representatives. The news was that our audited accounts were not
ready because the external auditor went blind. The true account is that as at December 2015
when this administration took office, the University had only submitted the audited accounts
up till 30 June 2012.
It is gratifying to report that the external auditors have since completed the following audited
accounts :
1 July 2012 to 31 Dec 2012
2013 accounts
2014 accounts
2015 accounts
2016 accounts
2017 accounts
2018 accounts
2019 accounts
In essence, we have prepared the accounts for seven and a half years. Consequently, we are
now up to date with our accounts. The outstanding accounts have been endorsed and will be
submitted to the Auditor-General of the Federation Monday 16 November 2020.
Conclusion
Before I conclude my speech, I, once more, want to felicitate with all the graduands for your
intellectual accomplishments at the University of Ibadan. Having obtained a degree, you are
properly positioned and adequately equipped to face the challenge of transforming the society
through acquired knowledge and competencies. I enjoin you all to be good ambassadors of
this University in whatever capacities or positions you may find yourselves. I also charge you
to strive to stimulate the growth of our national economy with your dynamism, enthusiasm
and creativity. Most importantly, as alumni of this great citadel of higher learning, may I
beseech you to always remember your own, the University of Ibadan, in all your endeavours,
and contribute your own quota to her continued progression. The University has invested
enormously in and given you an enviable platform to exhibit your potentials as well as
achieve your life-long dreams and aspirations; you should also be willing to give back when
you are capable or in position to do so.
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May God grant you all journey mercies back to your destinations.
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