OAU Best Student, Elebuibon Son, Announced Dead During Convocation

One of the best graduating students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Bibilari Elebuibon, was announced dead when he was called upon to receive his award.

Elebuibon, whose father is a popular ifa priest in Osogbo, bagged the award of best student overall performance in Yoruba Language, Faculty of Arts at the 42nd convocation ceremony of the OAU.

When he was called to come and receive the award by the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof. Gbemisola Adeoti, his colleagues were unusually silent.

Instead of clapping as he should expectedly walk out, the crowd maintained silence and screamed mournfully.

Later, the Public Relations of Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, announced that a minute silence be observed in honour of the deceased.

It was gathered that the late graduand died in an auto crash at Osogbo, capital of Osun State in July.

At the convocation, no fewer than 66 students graduated with first class at the 42nd convocation ceremony.

The convocation ceremony, which started on Wednesday, also saw 15 students graduating with distinction from the faculty of pharmacy.

The university also produced 1305 students with second class upper; 2127 second class lower; 606 third class; and 50 students had pass.

For the unclassified degrees, 65 students graduated with credit; and 412.

The summary of the statistics of the graduands presented by the acting Vice-Chancellor of the OAU, Prof. Anthony Elujoba, showed that a total of 6,827 students successfully graduated.

While 4,646 students were conferred with first degree ; 518 Postgraduate Diplomas; 1,663 got Postgraduate Degrees.

Giving his address, the acting VC identified crises and frequent closure of the OAU as the cause of instability of the university’s calendar.

These problems, Elujoba said, have been identified to be spiritual but could be tackled with divine and strategic approaches.