Nigerian veteran journalist Dayo Duyile at 82 bags PhD

An octogenarian and veteran Nigerian journalist, Dayo Duyile, who witnessed the foundation laying ceremony of University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 1962 as a reporter is to bag Phd during the forthcoming 53rd convocation ceremonies of the university

Penpushing reports that the university ceremonies scheduled to commence on Friday will produce more than 2,251 postgraduate students will, for the first time in many years, feature no single undergraduate among the graduands.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Folasade Ogunsola who made this known at a press conference disclosed that the 82-year old Nigerian veteran journalist will receive his PhD certificate in Mass Communications,

Penpushing also reports that Ogunsola  described Duyile’s feat as described as nostalgic, adding that apart from  Duyile, another 82-year-old grandmother, Obiageli Okonji,  from the Guidance and Counselling Department in the university’s Faculty of Education will also be receiving her Master’s certificate.

The Professor of Medical Microbiology was appointed the university pioneer female vice-chancellor in November 2022, and would be conducting the first convocation ceremonies in her capacity as the helmswoman.

Penpushing reports that  Ogunsola said the convocation is special because it coincides with the 60th anniversary of the university, recalling that the prolonged industrial action by the workers in 2022 made it impossible for the university to graduate undergraduate students.

The Vice Chancellor thanked the workers for their dedication and commitment to the university project despite the industrial action, noting that despite the nationwide strike and without being paid, the university workers still dedicated their time and energy towards ensuring the postgraduate students were attended to.

“The eight months industrial strike action by employees of Nigeria’s public University system was a great setback to scholarship and if not for the doggedness of the Senate of the University we would not have been here today. To members of Senate here present, I salute your commitment and fidelity to the University which has ensured that we have graduating students to celebrate at this year’s Special Convocation Ceremony’, 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’, Ogunsola stated.

‘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

Penpushing further reports that Ogunsola disclosed that the ceremonies will begin on Friday with the inauguration of a telemedicine project at the university’s College of Medicine, Idi Araba, adding that this will be followed by her (Ogunsola’s) investiture as the 13th Vice-chancellor on Tuesday.

The programme will also be followed by the convocation lecture to be delivered by the Managing Partner of Grand Central Africa, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, explaining that the telemedicine project was facilitated by the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Lanre Tejuoso, who is also an alumnus of the university, and the medical college in particular.

“Mr Fola Adeola, an industry expert, Co-founder of Guaranty Trust Bank and Chairman of FATE Foundation will be Chairman of the Lecture. Later in the evening at 5:00 p.m., the Convocation Play – Femi Osofisan’s Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels will be presented by the Creative Arts Department,” she added.

Penpushing also reports that Ogunsola said the award of the overall PhD thesis will be presented to Ahmed Yinusa from the Mechanical Engineering Department, and that Yinusa also won for the Faculty of Sciences.

The Vice Chancellor said the best Ph.D. Thesis in Humanities award goes to Kienka, Rita Okorite who obtained her Ph.D. in Guidance and Counselling, adding that the university will also use the opportunity to reward hard work, dedication and commitment to professionalism and scholarship among members of the academia.

“There will also be the conferment of Gold Medal Awards on two eminent personalities within the University community: Professor Johnson Olaleru, a celebrated Professor of Mathematics, and Professor Duro Oni, a Theatre Guru’, she added

Penpushing reports that she emphasized that the celebration is in accordance with the provisions of the University of Lagos Act, which empowers the University to identify and honour deserving members of the society with proven integrity, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and demonstrated significant contributions in raising the standard of the university through teaching, research, administration and service to the community.

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