Akpabio accepts invitation as guest speaker at OAU convocation December 13

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has accepted an invitation to be the guest speaker at the 49th Convocation and Lecture of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife in Osun State.

The invitation was extended to the Senate President when emissaries of the institution led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire visited him in Abuja on Tuesday. The Convocation is scheduled to hold on 13th December, 2025.

Professor Bamire told the Senate President: “On behalf of the Council, the Senate, Management, Staff and Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, we are here to really invite you and to present to you our invitation formally, for the 49th Convocation and Lecture of the University and for the Excellence Award as well.

“We thank you for the things you have been doing for this nation. We see it. We hear it. We watch you all the time. Particularly in the education sector. We are really happy for this renewed hope that is being brought into education sector.

“Apart from being the guest lecturer, we have an award for you. The award is not just coming for the sake of it. It is with respect to your excellent leadership.”

In his response, Akpabio thanked the Vice Chancellor and his team for the visit and assured them that he would be at the occasion.

“I am very delighted to be associated with you and it will be my great pleasure to come with a retinue of Dustinguished Senators to join you in your 49 Convocation ceremony as a whole. Not just the lecture but the entirety of the ceremony.

“Your alumini association is respected everywhere. Nationally, Internationally and otherwise. Please keep the flag flying,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President seized the occasion to counsel the Vice Chancellor to put in his best to make an impact in the school and also counselled the Principal Officers to support the leadership of the institution.

“Do your best in your time to elevate the standard of the University even more than you met it and for the Principal Officers, when you support leadership, then you prepare yourself for leadership. So give him all the support that he needs to do well because if he does well, you are also doing well.”