Some graduating students of the University of Ibadan have decried the Nigeria’s premier university management’s decision to ban all, except first class graduates, from its 2021 Convocation ceremony.

The university on Monday held its Convocation and Award Ceremony for the First Degrees at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, with only the first class graduates allowed in.

The institution had earlier announced that only first class graduands and their parents would be allowed into the Convocation Hall.

However, some of the graduands with lower grades were seen in the university’s academic regalia taking pictures with their friends and families.

Those, who spoke with NAN, said that they felt cheated out of a very important milestone in their lives, describing the university’s action as “discriminatory and damning”.

One of the graduating students from the Faculty of Social Science, who simply gave his name as Bayo, said that he felt demoralised.

“The university asked us to pay all convocation fees, but told us at the same time that we are not good enough to attend out own convocation ceremony.

“I bagged a Second Class Upper after spending close to seven years on school for a four-year degree. So, you can’t tell me I didn’t earn the right to be in the hall with other course mates and friends.

“What message are they trying to pass across, that we are not good enough?

“I am grateful that my parents are not condemning me in spite of this,” he said.

One of the graduands seen lurking around the convocation grounds, Yemi, of the Faculty  of Arts, said that the university was only trying to create unhealthy rivalry among the graduands.

Also commenting, Jeremiah Bunmi, a graduand of the Department of Psychology, said that the university did what it thought was best in order to keep the graduating students and their families safe.

“I am excited to be one of the graduands of this reputable institution.

“I think they did what they thought is best for everyone, especially pertaining to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bunmi said.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, said that a total of 8,474 candidates would be awarded various Degrees and Diplomas.

Adebowale said that the university was ranked number one in Nigeria and West Africa, seventh in Africa and top 500 globally in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking, 2021.

A breakdown of the list shows that approximately 3.1 per cent and 25. 5 per cent of our students finished with First Class and Second Class Upper Divisions Honours respectively.