By Hallimah Olamide
The management of University of Ilorin has said that the institution does not exploit students in term of charges, maintaining that the rates attached to the convocation memorabilia are the least.
The institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, stated this, sequel to some social media reports concerning the rates attached to convocation memorabilia for graduating students.
The graduating students had been protesting the alleged extortion by the institution in the forthcoming combined 37th and 38th convocation ceremony billed to be held October 20 and 21, citing short notice and the country’s economic situation, among others.
In a memo dated October 3, 2023, obtained with ref number: UIL/UCSC/131 by NPOReports, the institution introduced memorabilia, which includes branded T-shirts, scrolls, and lapel pins for graduates at the rate of N10,000.
However, in its reaction to the alleged extortion, Akogun in a statement made available to NPOReports on Tuesday dismissed the allegations levelled against the university by a group of former students who were planning protest.
He insisted that the rates attached to the convocation items were the least and indeed, the lowest available, going by the current economic realities in the country.
“The attention of the management of the University of Ilorin has been drawn to a social media news report on a planned protest by a group of former students of the university, with respect to some convocation items they are expected to have.
“These are their personal effects and necessary commemoratory mementos for the successful completion of their programmes in the university,” he said.
Akogun said that the graduating students should appreciate the good disposition of the university authorities in arriving at the rates, which, he said, were the lowest possible.
According to him, the institution does not exploit charges, and has always been considerate in fixing its charges, which remain the cheapest among public universities in the country.
“The university reserves the right to determine what materials are necessary and at the most reasonable rates for its students or graduands.
“Our graduands are worthy in character and learning, and would always live above board with the display of sound knowledge of the prevailing economic situation in the country.
“A few misguided individuals have taken to the social media and behind this unpopular protest for whatever primordial and selfish reasons, while a large number of our graduands have already paid for the items,” he said.