Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, was enveloped by silence in the convocation ground hall when the news of the death of one of the best graduating students, Bibilari Elebuibon, was announced.
Elebuibon, whose father is a popular ifa priest in Osogbo, bagged the award of best student overall performance in Yoruba Language in the Faculty of Arts at OAU’s 42nd convocation ceremony . When he was invited to the rostrum by the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof. Gbemisola Adeoti, to receive the award, his colleagues were unusually silent. Instead of clapping in anticipation of his emergence from the crowd, the crowd screamed mournfully.
It was at this juncture that the Public Relations of Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, announced that a minute silence be observed in honour of Elebuibon. It was gathered that the late Elebuibon 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 degrees.
The convocation ceremony, which started on Wednesday, also saw 15 students graduate with distinctions 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.
