Unilorin Upholds Integrity, Rejects Politicised Awards – JAMB Registrar, Alumni Commend Stance
KEHINDE AKINPELU, ILORIN
The University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has reaffirmed its commitment to merit, integrity, and academic excellence by honouring distinguished individuals with its prestigious excellence awards, while distancing itself from what it described as “worthless” honorary recognitions often awarded for political reasons.
At the recent investiture ceremony, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, applauded the university for upholding values that many institutions have abandoned.
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Professor Oloyede, a former Vice Chancellor of Unilorin, condemned the abuse of honorary awards across the country, saying many such recognitions have become tools of political patronage.
“Today, you can almost buy an honorary award. It has become so cheap and meaningless that people now use it for political favours,” he remarked. “But Unilorin is different. It does not dish out awards to just anybody. It gives excellence awards to those who truly deserve it.”
One of the awardees, Chief Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun (SAN), also decried the devaluation of honorary titles, commending Unilorin for restoring honour to the process. “It’s unfortunate that honorary awards have lost their value. They are now often used as political tools. What Unilorin is doing is refreshing,” he stated.
The keynote speaker, Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali, the 1st Kuliyan Gari of Ilorin, urged alumni and successful individuals to give back to their alma mater and communities that shaped them, stressing the importance of legacy and contribution.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), explained that the event celebrated 50 Unilorin Ambassadors, 10 distinguished alumni, and two recipients of the Award of Excellence. He emphasised that Unilorin would continue to recognise individuals who exemplify the institution’s core values.
“Our goal is to remain a beacon of academic and moral integrity,” Professor Egbewole affirmed. “We are recognising those who have carried the Unilorin flag with pride and made a difference in the world.”
The ceremony served as a powerful reaffirmation of Unilorin’s dedication to merit-based recognition and its firm stance against the politicisation of academic honours.
