By Isaac Lewu
The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin, Prof. Oluyemisi Bolajoko Fawole, has encouraged staff of the Faculty on examination invigilation duties to be more serious.
The Dean made the appeal when the Faculty organised a strategic sensitisation lecture to educate academic and non-teaching staff on the dos and don’ts of examination conduct, with emphasis on punctuality, responsibility, and the seriousness of invigilation duties.
Speaking during the interactive session, which took place penultimate Wednesday (June 18, 2025) at the Faculty Lecture Theatre, Prof. Fawole underscored the importance of upholding integrity and professionalism during the examination period, noting that strict adherence to examination guidelines would always help to protect the academic standard of the University.
Prof. Fawole reminded all staff members that invigilation is a core duty that must be taken seriously as lapses could compromise the credibility of the entire assessment process.
She also urged Departments to file invigilation rosters early, double check attendance, and keep standby replacements on call.
“Collective vigilance is the only antidote to malpractice; procedures are useless if we, the custodians, are absent,” she stressed.
Also speaking, the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Ilorin, Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho, led the first technical presentation, asserting that the Chief Invigilator (CI) “sets the ethical thermostat” of every examination room.
Prof. Omotesho outlined the core duties of CIs as pre-exam briefings, incident reporting, and venue surveillance. He said that timely distribution of scripts and seamless coordination with security personnel are very essential. He encouraged CIs to always submit written reports within 24 hours of any breach.
He also cautioned CI against abdication from responsibilities in the course of an examination, saying that such tendencies is like invitation to chaos.
Also speaking, the Sub-Dean of the Faculty, Dr O. A. Ojumoola, discussed the step-by-step protocol of reporting misconduct such as immediate seizure of incriminating material, witness statements, and submission to the Faculty Examination Misconduct Committee within six hours.
While warning that failure to follow due process could nullify an otherwise watertight case, Dr Ojumoola urged invigilators to treat every allegation with procedural fairness.
He explained that “justice rushed is justice denied as justice delayed encourages impunity”. He also called for timely but meticulous investigations to preserve both student rights and institutional standards.
