By Sulyman Pakoyi

The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) ) is set to clear an 11-year convocation backlog this year, the acting Rector, Mr. Olorunwa Adegun, has said.

Adegun gave the cheering news at the institution’s 31st matriculation ceremony for the 2023/2024 academic session .

According to him, “It is a highly disturbing fact that the last time the institution had a convocation ceremony was in 2013, implying that the institution now has a backlog of 11 editions of convocation.”

“The situation is unacceptable as it runs contrary to global best practices in the academic community,” Mr. Adigun said.

“Management under my leadership is taking decisive steps to reverse this unethical trend, and the institution will have its next convocation ceremony this year,” he added.

The Rector congratulated the 3,175 fresh students and advised them to pay conscious attention to existing institutional rules and regulations.

While speaking to newsmen, he said that the institution was engaging students in skill acquisition to keep them abreast of the latest best practices in the world.

He explained that the institution had zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractice, stealing, willful damage of institutional property, unauthorized demonstrations, and other vices.

“It is quite appropriate to intimate you with the need to pay conscious attention to existing institutional rules and regulations so that you do not violate any of them. You should also be willing to imbibe the fundamental details of academic culture,” he added.

He reiterated the need for students to abide by existing rules and regulations which guide the conduct of semester examinations in the institution as examinations for the first semester commence on Monday, 22nd of July 2024.

“No student is expected to come near any of the examination halls with any kind of phone or electronic gadget.

“Additionally, students who own cars/vehicles are to park them outside the institution’s campus during the examination period,” he declared.