University of Nigeria Enugu State,celebrated 49th convocation,last Thursday and the university awarded N1000 and N1500 to its best graduating students in several categories.
Parents and visitors were disappointed and angry that the first-generation university could award such “ridiculous prizes” to its best brains at a public ceremony.
Some university workers drew comparisons between the university’s show of shame at its prize and award night and secular shows and awards such as Big Brother Naija, where the winner takes prizes worth millions of naira.
They added that even runners-up in the Big Brother Naija show still smile home with magnificent prizes such as Sports Utility Vehicles in a television programme devoid of academic rigour.
Recall that last year, the BBNaija winner went home with prizes worth N85million.
Popular Nigerian-American journalist and host of the satirical show, “Dr. Damages Show, ” Rudolf Ogoo Okonkwo, stated that the university authorities should have avoided such ridiculous awards and cash prize ceremonies.
Okonkwo, who teaches AfroDiasporic Literature and Post-Colonial African History at the School of Visual Arts in New York, United States, added that if he noticed that the best student in his Humanities Department was getting a $120 prize at a graduation event, he would be so embarrassed that he would personally add his own money.
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