2 PhD graduands reportedly die on convocation day

October 23, 2016 2:56 PM

Two graduands of UNILORIN have been reported dead hours before their convocation ceremony.

The deceased, AbdulHafeez Adedimeji

A postgraduate student at the University of Ilorin, Arabic department reportedly died on Saturday, October 22.

ALSO READ: 8,692 students graduate during 20th convocation

The deceased identified as AbdulHafeez Adedimeji, died before he was able to receive his doctorate at the convocation ceremony.

The Dean of the Faculty of Post Graduate Studies, Prof. Badmas Yusuf, announced the sad news during the ceremony, ruining the atmosphere of the ceremony taking place in the UNILORIN auditorium.

Until his death, Adedimeji was a lecturer at the Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, and was a part of the 166 graduates to receive doctoral degrees at the convocation.

Punch reports that the deceased had arrived in Ilorin not too long before he died. The cause of his death is still unknown.

Sources reportedly disclosed that another graduand also died shortly before the ceremony, Punch reports.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, said 67 out of the 6,069 graduands for first degrees were first class, noting that it was an improvement from last year when the first class graduands were only 41.

ALSO READ: Unilorin, 6 other universities develop 'copyright' program

Prof. Ambali explained that 1,505 graduated with second-class upper division, compared to 1,234 from last year; and 3,200 with second-class lower division; 1,124 with third class; and 70 with pass.

The VC stated that 1,903 postgraduate students, 8,038 first degree students and 68 diploma students graduated on Friday and Saturday, October 21 and 22, during which the convocation held.