The 56th Convocation ceremonies of the University of Lagos peaked on Thursday, January 22, with the award of diplomas and postgraduate degrees in various disciplines in well-attended and colourful two-session activities that commenced at exactly 9.00 am and lasted until 5.30 pm. The entire ceremony had kicked off earlier on Friday, preceding the Jumat service at the University of Lagos Central Mosque and would be rounded off on Sunday, January 25, with a Thanksgiving Service at the Chapel of Christ Our Light, University of Lagos.
The high point of the ceremonies on the day was the speech by Chief Wole Olanikpekun, SAN, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos. Drawing from his rich history of legal advocacy, the fine legal mind used the auspicious occasion to draw attention to the irreparable damage and grave danger to society that the free rein and the unrestrained moral latitude that especially the social media is affording all comers can constitute.
While not minding being quoted on the subject of grave concern, he made it clear that he should not be seen as someone trying to inhibit the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech. Rather, this flagrant abuse of freedom of speech can, in the long run, if not in the short term, become the very impediment to it.
Quoting copiously from the provisions of the Cybercrime, Prohibition, Prevention, and Exemption Act 2024, he called on the government to enforce the Act and protect citizens and our society from the unmitigated, damning effects of an unregulated social media space. To further underscore the imperative of regulation and the need to protect citizens from constant harassment and cyber-bullying, he referenced the recent fining of a blogger to the tune of 100,000 British pounds by a UK court.
Turning attention to his other big take of the day, Olanipekun disclosed that the intractable ASUU-FG negotiations, which started in 2009, had finally reached an amicable resolution with an agreement signed by both parties. This is very cheering news indeed, and for which he gave much kudos to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, who represented the Visitor at the very impressive occasion.
Some of the provisions of the new agreement include, a 40 per cent raise in the salaries of academic staff with effect from January 1, 2026; enhanced pension benefits, ensuring professors retire with pensions equivalent to their full annual salaries at age 70; revitalised funding model guaranteeing dedicated allocations for research, libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development across board; establishment of a National Research Council, funded with a statutory 1% of the GDP to strengthen research and innovation in the institutions; strengthened provisions on university autonomy and academic freedom, and very important, the provision for the non-victimization of all parties involved in the negotiation processes, as witnessed in the past. This latest agreement is subject to a three-year review.
Olanipekun, it must be noted, has been an eminent member of the negotiating team with the federal government in his capacity as Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan in 2009, when the negotiations started, and now in 2026 in the same capacity at the University of Lagos when agreement was reached, exempting the Buhari years when he served as Pro Chancellor of the Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State.
The importance of this agreement cannot be undermined, considering the damage the protracted nature of decades of unresolved conflicts did to university autonomy and the sanctity of the academic calendar. That is perhaps why attempts by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, to play up the numero uno position of the university in the 2026 Times Higher Education World Universities Rankings did not impress much, as the best university in the country finished in the (global band 801 – 1000).
Efforts must now be concentrated on leveraging this new agreement to reposition our universities as centres of learning excellence, ready to compete with the best on the globe. If this lofty goal is to be attained, the latest ASUU-FG agreement, if faithfully implemented, would go a long way. It was no surprise, therefore, that the eminent legal practitioner called for it in his thought-provoking speech.
Overall, 16,506 students graduated at the convocation events with 617 first class and 92 distinctions in the Bachelor’s category, and 502 distinctions in the post-graduate category.
Another highlight at the occasion was the bagging of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in French by Hammid Taju at the impressive age of 78 and a royal father, Oba Sulaimon Bangbande, the Olofin of Isheri, who obtained a Master of Science (M.sc) in Systems Engineering, further cementing the long-held view that age and status are no barriers to education.
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