The Federal University Oye-Ekiti, (FUOYE), will at its combined convocation on August 26 award honourary doctorate degrees to three personalities ‘who have genuinely dedicated their lives in service to the nation.’
To be honoured are 86-year old Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, who saved the lives of 262 Christians that would have been killed by insurgents in the north; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Rev. Felix Ajakaiye and a British septuagenarian, Chief Guy Garguilo, a retired school principal who had dedicated over 60 years of his life teaching and moulding destinies of Nigerian youngsters in Okeogbe Akoko, Ondo State.
The week-long ceremony is the second convocation of the institution. It will kick off on August 26 with an interface with mediamen by the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Soremekun on the achievements in infrastructural and learning facilities to improve FUOYE’s educational standard.
The convocation continues till September 1, featuring a public lecture titled: “Anticipating the Birthday Boy, Options and Possibilities for a Besieged Nation at 60”, to be delivered on August 29 by Prof Tony Afejuku, a Public Affairs analyst and Professor of English at the University of Benin, Edo State. The lecture will reflect, in retrospective and prospective fervour, Nigeria’s thorny journey ahead of the nation’s Diamond anniversary next year.
The trio of Imam Abubakar, Bishop Ajakaiye and Garguilo will be garlanded with FUOYE’s Honorary Doctorate Degrees (PhDs), with PhD in Peace Studies going to Abubakar, while both Ajakaiye and Garguilo get the institution’s Honourary PhDs in Public Administration .
According to a statement from the VC’s office, the convocation will be spiced in the evening of August 29, with a performance of the Convocation play entitled : ‘Once Upon a Tower’ written by Nigeria’s first Professor of Dance, ex-Abuja Carnival’s CEO/artistic director and currently, FUOYE’s Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies, Prof. Rasaki Ojo Bakare.
‘Once Upon a Tower’ x-rays the dire consequences of the rot being perpetuated by some bad eggs in the nation’s tertiary institution.
Credit: Alao Abiodun
