Address By The Pro-Chancellor Of The University Of Lagos, Alhaji Garba Ja Abdulkadir, O.F.R. At The 23rd Convocation Ceremonies. (1990 Matriculation and Convocation Speeches)
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Date
1990-04-14
Authors
Abdulkadir, G. J.
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Publisher
University of Lagos Press
Abstract
This article analyzes the 1990 matriculation address delivered by Professor Nurudeen Alao, then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, focusing on its themes, tone, and institutional significance within Nigeria’s higher education landscape. Delivered in a period marked by social unrest and economic uncertainty following the anti-Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) protests, the speech underscores the importance of peace, discipline, and intellectual engagement as core values of university life. Professor Alao uses the occasion to formally induct over 3,000 new students, reinforcing their responsibilities as members of an academic community committed to scholarship, character formation, and civic responsibility. He frames the matriculation ceremony not merely as a rite of passage, but as a moral and academic contract between the university and its students. Key elements of the speech include a call to uphold university regulations, a reminder of the privileges and limits of academic freedom, and an emphasis on maintaining institutional heritage and resources. The speech also highlights the competitive nature of university admissions and the diverse opportunities for student involvement in governance and decision-making processes. In his address, Professor Alao draws attention to the need for critical thinking, respect for institutional values, and the cultivation of peaceful dialogue in times of dissent. His message is one of balance: encouraging vibrancy within lawful boundaries and advocating for freedom that does not compromise order. The address thus serves as both a vision statement and a behavioral guide for incoming students. It reflects the broader ethos of Nigerian public universities at a critical moment in history, where leadership, stability, and educational purpose intersect. This analysis situates the speech within the context of academic leadership and institutional resilience during political and economic transition.
Description
ddress by the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Alhaji Garba Ja Abdulkadir, O.F.R. at the 23rd Convocation Ceremonies. In 1990 Matriculation and Convocation Speeches
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Citation
Abdulkadir, G. J. (1990). Address By The Pro-Chancellor Of The University Of Lagos, Alhaji Garba Ja Abdulkadir, O.F.R. At The 23rd Convocation Ceremonies. (1990 Matriculation and Convocation Speeches), 11-14P.