The late Professor Ola Rotimi will once again strut and fret on the dramatic stage, as Bells University, Ota, Ogun State, performs its first convocation play, The Gods Are Not To Blame on Friday, November 6, 2009.
At a media briefing on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Isaac Adebayo Adeyemi, told newsmen that the school would feature the play as part of events marking the graduation of its “pioneering ambassadors” on Saturday, November 7, 2009.
To be directed by Dr. Bayo Adebowale, Ebika Anthony, Oyewole Olowomojuore and choreographed by Adebisi Adebayo, the play, which holds in the evening, is to be performed by the Bellstech Performing Troupe (BTPT).
The decision to stage The Gods Are Not to Blame as Bells University of Technology’s first convocation play, the vice chancellor noted, “has been a unanimous one. The play recommends itself highly because of its cultural relevance and the pride of place it gives to the oracle and the gods.”
It will also showcase “all the dramatic ingredients which the playwright, Ola Rotimi, injected into the writing of the play.”
On how the audience will react to a play as this, which does not reflect the immediate sociopolitical concerns of the nation, Adebowale answered: “The University has its destiny, which they call ‘vision’ and ‘mission’. So, destiny surrounds The Gods Are Not To Blame, the University and Nigeria.” With a promise that watching the institution’s version of the play will put an end to questions about relevance, he added: “You are not going to doubt whether this thing is relevant or not.
“We are people of destiny. Like it or not, your destiny has been sealed and there is no way you are going to change it.” And as though the Director and Founder of African Heritage Research Library would himself seal the fate of his argument, he pointed to the reporter and retorted: “It has been ordained that you would come here today.”
The performance will be preceded by a convocation lecture, titled: What Is Wrong with Nigeria? It is to be delivered by Ambassador Andrew Young, former United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Other highlights of the convocation will include the installation of the first Chancellor for the University, Professor Akinlawon Ladipo Mabogunje, NNOM, CON.
Honourary degrees will be conferred on eminent personalities such asProfessor Bart Nnaji, Chairman, Geometic Power Limited, the first indigenous power generation company; President John Kuffour, the immediate past President of the Republic of Ghana; Ambassador Young and Professor Mabogunje.
With 58 pioneer students in 2005/2006 Academic Session, the school has had a smooth calendar since inception and 13 of the pioneer students, whose courses ran for four years, will be graduating while the rest who are running five year courses will graduate in the 2009/2010 Academic Session.
Admission to First Degree and presentation of prizes will be given to 4 students with 1st Class Honours; 6 with 2nd Class honours (Upper Division); and 3 with 2nd Class (Lower Division).
No comments:
Post a Comment