The National Universities Commission (NUC) and a number of universities operating in the country have denounced a list of purported fake professors making the rounds on social media.
The list, contained in a story titled “About 100 Fake Professors Uncovered In Nigerian Universities – NUC”, surfaced online in the wake of reactions to a report by an undercover journalist, Umar Audu, detailing how a degree certificate from a Benin Republic-based university, Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT), was delivered to him “like pizza” within six weeks after payment was made and without having undertaken a course of study in the university, or even leaving the shores of Nigeria.
The report, published December 3, 2019 on Channels Television website (https://www.channelstv.com/2019/12/03/about-100-fake-professors-uncovered-in-nigerian-universities-nuc/), attributed its source to the Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed, “in a bulletin published by the commission in November”.
The list claimed that the University of Ibadan has 11 of the uncovered fake professors, Covenant University has four, Obafemi Awolowo University eight, University of Lagos five, University of Nigeria, Nsukka nine, Ahmadu Bello University eight, Federal University of Technology, Akure nine, University of Ilorin 11, and University of Port Harcourt eight.
Others listed are Federal University of Technology, Minna with nine fake professors, University of Jos wiith nine, Bayero University Kano 20, Ekiti State University 15, Nnamdi Azikiwe University 10, Usmanu Danfodio University seven, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University seven, Federal University of Petroleum Resources 12, Rivers State University 11, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture 11, Federal University of Technology, Owerri 15, Babcock University nine, American University of Nigeria 14, and Redeemer’s University nine.
But in a quick reaction to the publication, NUC said the list was being circulated in the media by some mischief-makers.
The Commission described the list, reportedly published by a Lagos-based medium, as untrue, and therefore, could not have emanated from the apex regulatory educational body without due consultation with their accredited universities.
NUC Deputy Executive Secretary in Charge of Academic Directorate, Dr. Noel Abiodun Saliu, said such information should be taken as mischievous and unfounded, insisting that it could not have emanated from the body.
He restated that such publication should be taken as the handiwork of mischief-makers who are out to destroy the hard-earned reputation of those prestigious institutions whose names were mentioned and also to undermine the work of the apex regulatory educational agency.
Reacting to the report, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) denied having fake professors.
The university, in a statement issued by its Head of the Communication Unit, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, on Saturday night, described the report as unsubstantiated and urged the public to disregard it.
“The attention of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) management has been drawn to an unsubstantiated report on social media, claiming that the NUC has uncovered fake professors in some Nigerian universities, including ours,” Alaga-Ibraheem stated.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the university management hereby explicitly refutes the five names listed as ‘fake’ professors of the university.
“Members of the university community and the general public are enjoined to completely disregard the report as the persons listed are not our staff and have never worked at any point in time and in any capacity at the university.
“Please be reassured of the institution’s commitment to its mandate of being a topnotch citadel of higher education, in deed and in truth,” she said.
Covenant University also denied employing any of the four “fake professors” on the list that has gone viral on social media.
Taking to its official Instagram page, Covenant University emphasised its meticulous recruitment process and stringent academic standards.
The university highlighted the rigorous procedures involved in appointing professors, including international peer review and adherence to world-class criteria, further clarifying that it has never interacted with any of the individuals listed in the publication.
“We wish to set the record straight. We have no such names as listed in the said article in our payroll. Also, Covenant has never interacted with any of the four persons at any time, and in any capacity,” the university stated.
In a similar vein, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, rejected, denounced and dissociated itself from such publication.
The university, in a press statement signed by its Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs Directorate, Adetunji Adeleye, noted that the persons whose names were listed as professors in Redeemer’s University are NOT “our staff and have never worked in Redeemer’s University at any point in time, in ANY capacity whatsoever”.
“These ‘professors’ are not known to us and anyone who deals with them as individuals or a group, does so at his or her own risk,” Redeemer’s University warned.
It urged the general public to be wary of fake news and always cross-check facts from the NUC, which is the apex regulatory educational body that oversees universities in Nigeria.
