Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) has rescheduled its 18th convocation ceremony due to threats from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The new date was announced in a statement by Dr. Emma Ojukwu, the special adviser on special duties and media to the Vice-Chancellor, and made available to reporters on Wednesday.
Originally set for May 30 and 31, 2024, the convocation will now take place solely on May 31. The adjustment follows a warning from IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, who emphasized that May 30 should be observed as ‘Biafra Day’ in the Southeast.
Despite IPOB’s warning, Dr. Ojukwu clarified that the date change was actually prompted by the federal government’s inauguration of the university’s new governing council in Abuja on May 30. “The Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka wishes to inform all the graduands, friends of the University, the University Community and the general public that the 18th convocation ceremony of the University earlier scheduled to hold on the 30 and 31 of May, 2024 has now been rescheduled to only May 31, 2024,” he stated.
He further explained, “The reason for the rescheduling is because of the federal government’s appointment of new Governing Council members who will be inaugurated in Abuja on May 30, 2024. As the University Management is expected to be present at the inauguration in Abuja, it was considered necessary and inevitable to adjust the convocation ceremony date to only May 31, 2024 for all activities of the 2024 18th convocation ceremony.”
The rescheduled convocation will now include all activities involving undergraduate and postgraduate awards, honorary degrees, and the convocation lecture on May 31.
Dr. Ojukwu urged all graduands and the public to disregard any information not officially released by the university, and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the change.
Quicktell News had earlier reported that IPOB’s statement called for a change in date, asserting that May 30 is to be observed as ‘Biafra Day,’ which played a part in the university’s decision to avoid potential conflict.
