Cursory: History has been made at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) following the announcement of the institution’s oldest PhD graduate Dayo Michael Duyile, a living legend in journalism was declared UNILAG’s oldest PhD graduate at 83 Coincidentally, he was the journalist who covered and reported the first convocation ceremony of the university in 1962.
An octogenarian and veteran Nigerian journalist, Dayo Duyile, is one of more than 2,251 postgraduate students to graduate from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) during the institution’s forthcoming 53rd convocation ceremonies.
The ceremonies, which have been scheduled to commence on Friday, will, for the first time in many years, feature no single undergraduate among the graduands.
The development is not unconnected to the prolonged industrial actions by the university workers that paralysed both academic and non-academic activities across major Nigerian public universities in 2022.
Meanwhile, apart from Mr Duyile, another 82-year-old grandmother, Obiageli Okonji, will also be receiving her Master’s certificate.
While Mr Duyile will receive his PhD certificate in Mass Communications, Mrs Okonji will graduate from the Guidance and Counselling Department in the university’s Faculty of Education.The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, revealed this on Tuesday during a media briefing as part of the activities marking the ceremonies.
She said the convocation is special “because it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the university.”
Mrs Ogunsola, a Professor of Medical Microbiology, who was appointed the institution’s pioneer female vice-chancellor in November 2022, would be conducting the first convocation ceremonies in her capacity as the helmswoman.
The vice-chancellor described as nostalgic Mr Duyile’s feat, saying the media practitioner and scholar witnessed the foundation-laying ceremony of the university in 1962 as a reporter.
She further noted that the convocation ceremony will also feature graduates from the 53rd edition. Professor Ogunsola disclosed that this development was necessary due to the long industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
She said:
“As a result of these challenges, the University will be conferring only Postgraduate diplomas, Masters and Doctorate degrees as well as the University of Lagos Gold Medal honourary awards at this convocation”
“A total of 2,251 graduating students will receive their degrees, diplomas, and certificates; out of this number, 67 will receive Postgraduate diplomas, 2,119 will receive Masters degrees while 65 will receive Doctorate degrees” she added.
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