Some parents have expressed dissatisfaction over the heavy traffic congestion experienced during the recent undergraduate convocation ceremony at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, describing the experience as stressful and calling for improvements to future events.
The concerns gained attention following a video shared on Facebook by Bukola Amusan Olaleye (https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GBk1Jpf2X/), who appeared to be the parent of one of the graduating students. The video showed a lengthy traffic gridlock around the university, with many attendees reportedly leaving their vehicles to walk to the convocation venue, while others resorted to using commercial motorcycles (okada) to complete their journey.
In the video, Bukola alleged that the traffic situation has become a recurring challenge during the university’s convocation ceremonies. She urged the institution to consider holding its graduations in batches to ease congestion and improve the overall experience for graduates and their families.
“I was here 10 years ago and went through the same stress just to enter Babcock University,” she said. “Every year we keep having the same problem. Why are all the students graduating on the same day? Can’t the university organise the ceremonies by departments or in batches?”
Several social media users who commented on the video shared similar experiences.
One commenter, Abisiagboola Scholar Buky, alleged that she spent between five and six hours in traffic after arriving on the road leading to the university around 10 a.m.
According to her, many parents parked their vehicles in nearby communities and continued their journey on motorcycles because they could not drive any closer to the campus. She also claimed that some residents charged motorists ₦2,500 for parking.
She further alleged that the congestion prevented her family from attending the graduation ceremony, adding that the venue was overcrowded and that poor mobile network coverage made it difficult to communicate with her son.
Despite the challenges, she said the joy of witnessing her son’s graduation outweighed the stress, while urging the university to consider organising future convocations in batches to improve crowd and traffic management.
Another commenter, Mary Isoma Akinsemoyin, also claimed she had a similar experience, saying her family parked in a neighbouring village and used motorcycles to reach the stadium, adding that the situation was similar to what they experienced four years earlier.
Many of the comments accompanying the viral video called on the university to review its convocation arrangements, with several parents suggesting that ceremonies be held in phases or by faculty to reduce congestion.
Babcock University conferred degrees on 3,521 graduates during its undergraduate convocation held on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
As of the time of filing this report, the university had not issued an official response to the concerns raised by parents on social media.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.