Academic gowns allocated for the University of Lagos (UNILAG) post-graduate students have been reported stolen, causing a setback in the preparations for the 54th convocation ceremony.
A total of 340 graduands are set to receive first-class degree certificates during this week’s convocation ceremony. The gowns, which had been paid for by the graduates, were scheduled for distribution in anticipation of the event.
The academic gowns for the post-graduate ceremony were reportedly stolen while being transported on a university bus. Graduates had been required to pay a fee of N15,000 for the collection of these gowns.
Numerous affected students, who were eagerly anticipating the collection of their academic gowns, expressed frustration over the delay caused by the unfortunate incident.
The School of Postgraduate Studies (SPGS) management at the university communicated the setback to post-graduate students through a brief text message and email.
The message read, “Dear graduate, we regret to inform you that the distribution of SPGS academic gowns is now suspended. Sadly, the remaining gowns were stolen, and our bus vandalised this afternoon.”
In response, some affected individuals, like lawyer Malachy Odo, shared their disappointment on social media. Malachy Odo disclosed receiving the notice from UNILAG after paying the required sum.
“I paid 15k for convocation gown yesterday and this is what UNILAG just sent me. This country is not a real place,” he wrote on X.