Reports that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had exposed fake professors at their institutions have been refuted by the administrations of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State, Covenant University at Ota in Ogun State, and the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) in Kwara State.
The story was deemed derogatory by the UNN in a statement released by its acting Public Relations Officer (PRO), Okwun Omeaku, following its circulation on social media.
“We firmly declare that no fake professors exist within the University of Nigeria’s faculty body.
“The rigorous processes for academic staff promotion to professorship status at our university preclude any possibility of fraudulent representation.
“Only individuals who have demonstrated outstanding expertise in their respective fields and met all relevant regulations can attain the prestigious title of professors in the University of Nigeria,” the statement said.
The UNN urged the public to disregard what it called the “insidious publication fabricated by malicious instigators”.
Also, Covenant University denied having four fake professors among those purportedly discovered by the NUC.
A statement yesterday in Ota by the university’s Head of Communication Unit, Ms. ChiChi Ononiwu, said the university did not have the names listed by the NUC on its payroll.
Also, UNILORIN dismissed the claims that 11 fake professors were uncovered in the institution.
A statement yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, by its spokesperson Kunle Akogun, reads: “We don’t have fake professors and they do not exist in our university.
“The National Universities Commission had categorically dismissed the information as fallacious fabrication of mischief makers.
“The commission has dissociated itself from the list that first surfaced in December 2019.“We deem it expedient to categorically disassociate our institution from the story of the 11 fake professors listed against our university.”