Authorities of Crescent University, Abeokuta have reacted to online reports headlined "Crescent University convocation turns violent as angry parents beat journalist, curses management", stressing that the reports were at best biased, subjective and unbalanced.

A release by the public relations office stated that both the alleged parents and the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) reporter Jumoke Onafowora arrived the Bola Ajibola Auditorium venue of the convocation about two hours behind deadline set for graduands and guests to have seated.

The release noted that " all over the world, universities have rules and regulations guiding their ceremonies especially on punctuality, timeliness and conduct. Crescent University is not an exception in this academic culture. All students, parents and their guests had earlier been notified that they must be seated by 9.30 a.m. before the procession of the university chancellor at 10 a.m.

" We are appalled that the journalist in question, had, according to the report, struggled with 'the parents' to gain access into the convocation hall around midday, more than two hours after the deadline, whereas an alternative comfortable 500 seater Marquee under which there were large screen TV monitors projecting the programme had been adequately provided for those who arrived late", the release stated.

The release posits that "since our vision was not only academic but with moral rectitude, no guest, including the journalist in question could have been allowed by the security staff after procession of the chancellor and even representative of the governor had been seated and the programme was already halfway"

The university also lamented as unethical, sensational and judgemental the rush to the press by the said journalist without contacting any official of the institution for balance and fairness of the story.

"Preliminary investigations have revealed that no bona-fide parent was involved and that the people with which the aforementioned journalist had a brawl were most likely to be gate-crashers, touts and miscreants disguised as parents since important ceremonies are usually besieged by such people to beg for money and curry favour with dignitaries", the release concluded. It further stated that the University has a virile Parents Forum with established two-way communication channel though complaints and concerns are addressed.

The university therefore enjoined journalists and other Nigerians to embrace the culture of punctuality and orderliness in all they do.

Link to earlier trend:
https://www.nairaland.com/5481707/crescent-university-convocation-turns-violent

CC:lalasticlala please move this