UNILORIN PhD Graduate Mysteriously Dies on Convocation Day (Photo)

The University of Ilorin is currently mourning the loss of two PhD graduates who died just before their graduation.

AbdulHafeez Adedimeji

AbdulHafeez Adedimeji, a postgraduate student of Arabic at the University of Ilorin, died on Saturday, the day he was to receive his doctorate degree.

Another doctoral graduate also died shortly before the ceremony.

Soon after the Dean, Faculty of Post Graduate Studies, Prof. Badmas Yusuf, informed attendants of the death of the two gradutates, a gloomy atmosphere enveloped the lively UNILORIN auditorium where the 32nd graduation activities were being held.

Adedimeji, who until his death was a lecturer at the Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, was among 166 receiving doctoral degrees at the convocation.

He was said to have arrived in Ilorin for the convocation not long before his death.

The Vice Chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof. Abdulganiyu Ambali, said 67 of the 6,069 graduands for first degrees were first class, adding that it was an improvement on last year’s 41 first-class graduands.

He explained that 1,505 merited second-class upper division, compared to 1,234 last year; 3,200, second-class lower division; 1,124, third class; and 70, pass.

He stated that 1,903 postgraduate students, 8,038 first degree students and 68 diploma students graduated on Friday and Saturday, being the first two days of the 32nd convocation.