The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has clarified that it declined the use of its venue for a proposed lecture by Peter Obi due to inadequate notice from the event organisers.
The explanation follows concerns raised by Obi, who had described a pattern of cancelled academic engagements across Nigerian universities as a threat to intellectual discourse.
In a statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the institution said it only received full details about the event and the invited guest a day before the scheduled lecture, making it difficult to complete necessary arrangements.
“It is important to note that events involving high-profile personalities… require adequate prior notification… to enable the institution to make necessary logistical and security arrangements,” the statement read.
The university explained that such preparations typically involve coordination with security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, to ensure the safety of participants and the campus community.
“Given the short notice and the attendant inability to complete these critical arrangements, the university authorities could not approve the use of Oduduwa Hall for the event,” it added.
OAU emphasised that the decision was based strictly on procedural and safety considerations and was not intended as a slight against Obi.
The clarification comes amid broader discussions about access to university platforms and the balance between administrative protocols and the role of higher institutions as spaces for public lectures and intellectual engagement.
For information on Press Releases, Photos, Promotional Events and Adverts, Please message us on WhatsApp via (+234) 09052129258, 08124662170 or send an email to: info@educeleb.com.
