Following the controversies surrounding Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged forgery of Chicago State University Certificate, he has cautioned Nigerian universities against the indiscriminate award of honorary Doctorate Degrees, emphasising that such practices undermine academic integrity.
Recall Parallel Facts reports on October 12, 2023, titled; There is Evidence Bola Tinubu forged his CSU certificate Submitted to INEC, BBC Lied. According to this report, it was revealed that our findings, after successfully studying the released documents, show that the certificate Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wasn’t the same CSU-issued certificate in 1979.
Note: This was established by CSU under the oath that the said certificate wasn’t issued by the institution. Questioned under oath, Caleb Westberg, the registrar at Chicago State University, said Mr. Tinubu’s certificate, dated June 22, 1979, and tendered to INEC on June 17, 2022, was not issued by the school, and its administrators could, therefore, not be able to authenticate its source.
However, Speaking at the combined convocation ceremonies for the 6th, 7th, and 8th graduates of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) in Nasarawa State, Tinubu, represented by the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Jibreel-Maiyaki, stressed that degrees should be conferred only upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to society.
Tinubu argued that academic competence and professional training are essential, but moral training and ethical standards must complement them for universities to fulfill their purpose.
He stated, “Moral training and ethical standards must be coupled with the best form of academic development for universities to fulfill its purpose.
“Therefore, universities management and the general environments of teaching and learning must model the highest standard of integrity, probity and moral discipline.
“In this connection, I must draw your attention to the tendency of some institutions to devalue the quality of their degrees by given out honorary Doctorate Degrees indiscriminately against the common universities community practice.”
Tinubu pledged ongoing support for universities and their communities, vowing to address infrastructural deficits.
READ ALSO: There is Evidence Bola Tinubu forged his CSU certificate Submitted to INEC, BBC Lied
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State commended FULafia’s efforts in training students and promised to provide entrepreneurial skills training and financial assistance to the 50 First Class graduates.
Prof. Shehu Abdul-Rahman, Vice Chancellor of FULafia, highlighted the significant growth of the institution since its establishment in 2011, with 6,499 students graduating from 53 departments.
He expressed gratitude to Chief Bola Tinubu, Governor Sule, and other partners for their support, emphasising the institution’s commitment to integrity, innovation, and excellence.