UNILORIN provokes national consciousness with Convocation play, “Death of Crown Escort”
By Mubarak Oladosu
As It is the tradition at the end of every academic session during the University of Ilorin Convocation ceremonies, the Department of Performing and Film Arts, University of Ilorin, has again provoked national conversation and highlighted the path forward to national progress with the 2026 Convocation Play titled “Death of the King’s Escort”.
The play, set in fictional Odu community in Idoma land of present day Benue State in North Central Nigeria, examined inter generational cultural conflict and intercivilisational cultural conflict caused by apprehension over embracing new practices as norms.
The play, however, resolves with abolition of sacrifice of the Crown Escort whom Dr Shuaib compares with the graduands who offer the promise of a better future and reconcile tradition with progress and integrity with leadership to move the nation forward towards peace, progress and prosperity.
The staging of the Convocation Play, which was written by Dr Abdulmalik Amali of the Department and directed by the Director of Academic Planning, Prof. AbdulRasheed Abiodun Adeoye, was attended by the Pro Chancellor of the University, Surveyor Abiodun Jacob Aluko, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole SAN, other Principal Officers, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and graduands.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor noted that it is an annual practice for the Department of Performing and Film Arts to prove that its productions is second to none around the world.
Prof. Egbewole, who is also a Member of the Nigerian Body of Benchers, urged the Department to reflect on new ways of generating funds for the Department and the University.
In his welcome address, the Ag. Head of the Department, Dr Shadiat Olapeju Shuaib, said the Department has become a veritable platform that interrogates society through Drama, Dance and Music, adding that the Department does not perform plays as mere entertainment but to hold a mirror to the society as a people and as a nation.
Dr Shuaib, who is an Associate Professor at the Department, drew a parallel between Odu land and Nigeria blessed with a rich destiny and a covenant of greatness that was truncated by the death of cherished values, replaced with greed, selfishness, inordinate quest for power, corruption, poverty, insecurity, religious bigotry and wanton destruction of lives and property.
In his remarks, Prof. Adeoye, who is also a former Head of the Department and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, said that culture defines a people and described the production as a total theatre and satire of purpose which urges the audience to kill all the obstacles hindering their growth.
