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The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, and legal luminary Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun SAN have lauded the management of the University of Ilorin for not following the path of giving honorary awards to undeserved people in the society which has now become watery all in the name of looking for money.
The duo expressed this on Wednesday at the institution’s 50th anniversary celebration and the unveiling of the 62 distinguished Unilorin Ambassadors.
In his remarks, the JAMB registrar, who was one of the 10 awardees in the categories of ‘Distinguished Alumni’ lauded Unilorin for upholding values that have eluded many institutions.
Oloyede, a former Vice Chancellor of the university, decried the growing abuse of honorary awards across the country.
“Today, you can almost buy an honorary award. It has become so cheap and meaningless that people now use it for political favours.
“But Unilorin is different. It does not dish out awards to just anybody. It gives excellence awards to those who truly deserve it,” he said.
Echoing the same sentiment, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun, who was also honoured as one of the 50 ‘Unilorin Alumni Ambassadors’ condemns how honorary titles have become tools of political patronage, praising Unilorin for restoring dignity to the process.
Legal Luminary, Chief Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun SAN
“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 said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Vice Chancellor of Unilorin, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), explained that the ceremony was aimed at celebrating 50 Unilorin Ambassadors, 10 Distinguished Alumni, and 2 Recipients of the Award of Excellence.
He emphasised that the institution will continue to recognise those who uphold the university’s values of excellence and service.
“Our goal is to remain a beacon of academic and moral integrity. We are recognising those who have carried the Unilorin flag with pride and made a difference in the world,” Egbewole said.
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