EDITORIAL
2024 ABU Convocation Conundrum: A University Management’s Parting Shot or a Pilfering of Funds?
As the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) prepares to vacate his seat in a few months, the university community is abuzz with the news of the 2024 edition of the convocation ceremony. While convocation is a significant milestone for graduating students, one cannot help but wonder if this ceremony is a necessary expense, especially considering the university’s precarious financial situation.
With ABU facing significant financial constraints, it is alarming that the university’s management is prioritizing the convocation ceremony over other essential needs. The university’s students and staff are no strangers to the complaints of lack of money often put forward by the Vice-chancellor, posed by inadequate funding.
In this context, the decision to hold the 2024 edition of the convocation ceremony, barely a year after the 2023 edition, is not only financially unsustainable but also unjustifiable. The costs associated with organizing a convocation ceremony are substantial, ranging from catering, to souvenir production and guest invitations. These expenses could be significantly reduced if the university were to adopt a more pragmatic approach, such as combining convocation ceremonies for multiple years.
Furthermore, it is essential to recognize that convocation ceremonies are not a constitutional requirement. While they may be an important tradition, they are not indispensable. In fact, many universities around the world have abandoned the practice of holding annual convocation ceremonies, opting instead for more cost-effective and efficient approaches.
For record purposes, it will be important to remind the public that when Professor Kabiru Bala’s predecessor mooted a similar proposal a few months before he was forced by the immediate past council to proceed on terminal leave, the proposal was ultimately rejected.
It is also worth noting that the university management’s decision to hold the 2024 edition of the convocation ceremony despite the university’s financial struggles raises questions about their priorities. With only a few months left in office, one would expect the university management to prioritize the welfare and education of the students, rather than using the ceremony as a parting shot.
In conclusion, the university management’s decision to hold the 2024 edition of the convocation ceremony is a misallocation of resources. At a time when the university is struggling to provide basic necessities, it is unconscionable to prioritize a ceremony that could be combined in the future to reduce costs.
We call on the university council to rethink its approach to convocation ceremonies and prioritize the needs of the students and the institution as a whole.