The distribution of post-graduate academic gowns for the 54th convocation ceremony at the University of Lagos has been temporarily halted. This decision comes in the wake of an incident where suspected hoodlums vandalized the bus storing the gowns.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, announced that on January 16 and 17, 2024, a total of 17,464 students would be graduating from UNILAG, with 10,578 receiving first degrees and 6,886 obtaining postgraduate degrees.
Despite the fact that graduating students had each paid N15,000 for the gowns, the university’s School of Post-Graduate Studies informed them through a brief text message and email that the gowns, which had already been paid for, were stolen from the bus.
The message read, “Dear graduate, we regret to inform you that the distribution of SPGS academic gowns is now suspended.
Sadly, the remaining gowns were stolen, and our bus was vandalised this afternoon.”
It was learnt that the students had lamented over the delay and their inability to collect the gown having made their payments.
A lawyer, Malachy Odo, also confirmed that he received the notice from the school through a text message while reacting to the development on the X platform.
He wrote, “I paid 15k for convocation gown yesterday and this is what UNILAG just sent me. This country is not a real place.”
