Speech Delivered By The Vice-Chancellor Professor Nurudeen Alao At The Matriculation Ceremony Of University Of Lagos (1990 Matriculation & Convocation Speeches)

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dc.contributor.authorAlao, N.
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-01T09:12:53Z
dc.date.available2025-08-01T09:12:53Z
dc.date.issued1990-02-16
dc.descriptionSpeech Delivered By The Vice-Chancellor Professor Nurudeen Alao At The Matriculation Ceremony Of Universiy Of Lagos. Matriculation and Convocation Speeches
dc.description.abstractProfessor Nurudeen Alao began his speech by warmly welcoming the freshmen and acknowledging the unusual circumstances of the academic session, which had been disrupted by the anti-SAP (Structural Adjustment Programme) riots, leading to a five-month university closure. He emphasized the importance of peace, describing it as essential for intellectual development and warning that it requires continuous effort to maintain. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the expanded scope of the orientation programme, which included sessions on university rules, use of facilities like the Library and Health Centre, and interactions with student bodies and religious leaders. This orientation was positioned as preparation for the matriculation ceremony. A total of 3,091 undergraduates were matriculating, chosen from over 26,000 applicants, a testament to the competitiveness of the University of Lagos. Professor Alao noted the growing preference for science-based disciplines, with a 60.1% to 39.9% ratio over arts. He defined matriculation as a formal induction into the university community, marking the end of orientation and the beginning of a student’s academic journey. He stressed the importance of the matriculation oath, which commits students to obey university regulations and respect its authorities. The Vice-Chancellor portrayed the university as a cooperative enterprise, thriving on active staff-student collaboration. He cited student representation in various university committees as evidence of inclusive governance. Reiterating his message from the previous year, Professor Alao emphasized that the core purpose of university education is intellectual development and professional skill acquisition. Other outcomes like socialization and value formation are secondary. He discussed the freedoms and responsibilities that come with university life—freedom of expression, inquiry, and association—but noted that these can only flourish in a peaceful environment. He cautioned against vandalism and stressed the need to preserve university property. Finally, he reminded students of the matriculation oath, underscoring that disobedience carries consequences. He acknowledged the right to dissent but urged students to express disagreement through dialogue and debate, not violence. He concluded with a warm welcome to the university as a “community dedicated to a life of reason.”
dc.identifier.citationAlao, N. (1990). Speech Delivered By The Vice-Chancellor Professor Nurudeen Alao At The Matriculation Ceremony Of Universiy Of Lagos. Matriculation and Convocation Speeches, 31-35P.
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.unilag.edu.ng/handle/123456789/13295
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity Of Lagos Press
dc.relation.ispartofseriesMatriculation and Convocation Speeches; 1990
dc.titleSpeech Delivered By The Vice-Chancellor Professor Nurudeen Alao At The Matriculation Ceremony Of University Of Lagos (1990 Matriculation & Convocation Speeches)
dc.typePresentation
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