A group of concerned parents and graduates of Babcock University has called on the institution’s management to restore what it described as the central purpose of convocation by giving greater prominence to academic excellence during graduation ceremonies.
In an open letter issued following the university’s 2026 convocation, the group expressed disappointment over what it considered the inadequate recognition of outstanding academic performance, urging the management to acknowledge the shortcomings of the ceremony, apologize to affected graduates and put measures in place to prevent a recurrence.

The group argued that convocation should primarily celebrate scholarship, discipline and academic achievement, noting that the ceremony ought to serve as a platform for honoring students who distinguished themselves through years of dedication and hard work.

According to the letter, one of the major concerns was the selection of the commencement speaker, a serving state governor, whose address allegedly focused largely on his administration’s achievements rather than offering graduates intellectual inspiration, professional guidance or reflections suited to a university convocation.

The group maintained that commencement speakers should be chosen based on their ability to inspire graduating students and contribute meaningfully to the academic significance of the occasion rather than the public office they occupy.
It also criticised what it described as the minimal recognition accorded to outstanding graduates during the ceremony, stating that only the overall best graduating student of the university was publicly acknowledged.

The parents and graduates noted that the best graduating students from the university’s schools, departments and part-time programmes, as well as first-class graduates, were not recognised on stage despite their exceptional academic records.
Instead, the affected students were reportedly directed to collect their awards at the university registry, a decision the group said diminished the value of years of academic excellence.

While stressing that it had no objection to other categories of recognition presented during the ceremony, the group expressed concern that the “Youth Development and Social Advocacy Award,” given to graduates recognized for positive personal transformation, received prominent attention while academic distinctions received little public
acknowledgment.

According to the letter, recognizing personal growth and social rehabilitation is commendable, but such recognition should not overshadow the primary purpose of a university convocation, which is to celebrate academic merit.
The group further argued that public recognition during convocation often serves as an important credential for graduates seeking scholarships, employment opportunities and postgraduate admissions, adding that denying outstanding students that platform could have lasting consequences.

It therefore urged the university to publicly acknowledge that the 2026 convocation did not sufficiently celebrate academic excellence, apologize to affected graduates and establish a clear framework for recognizing the best graduating students across all schools and departments, as well as all first-class graduates, during future convocations.
The letter concluded that universities exist to promote merit, evidence and excellence, insisting that convocation ceremonies should reflect those values by ensuring that graduates who excelled academically receive the public recognition they deserve.