Fake Certificates: Arrest, Prosecute Any Operator Of Satellite Campuses In Our Name,AAU, Ekpoma Management Tells NUC

The Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to arrest and prosecute anyone operating satellite campus in its name, describing a recent report in a national newspaper alleging the existence of illegal satellite campuses being run in the name of the University as disturbing.

It also applauded the reported NUC decision to “investigate the proprietors and recover illegal fees and charges paid by subscribers”.

This was contained in a response issued by the University’s Head of Corporate Communications and Protocol, Mike Aladenika and made available to newsmen in Benin City.

The statement insisted the University does not run any satellite campus nor has it given anyone the permission to do so on its behalf, either directly or indirectly.

According to Aladenika, “The Senate has not approved any Satellite campus anywhere; it has not approved that any certificate be awarded in the name of the University to anyone emerging as “products” from such illegal campuses either. We have continued to emphasise this. We are glad that by reportedly using the tag “illegal” for such satellite campuses, the NUC is on the same page with us. Surely, anything the University has not approved is illegal, null and void.”

Continuing,he said: “Ambrose Alli University is a frontline state University in Nigeria; it is a respected institution; it is more than forty years old, and has produced world class alumni, its current student population stands at more than 36,000. For an institution that towers so high to be “milling certificates” through illegal satellite campuses must be a strange phenomenon. We cannot, therefore, wait to see the outcome of the reported NUC “further investigations” on these reported “illegal satellite campuses.”

Expressing delight that the NUC has come out strong against institutions, both home and abroad, that are issuing fake certificates, Aladenika said he was satisfied that AAU was not listed among the “58 illegal degree-awarding universities in Nigeria” cited in the report. He noted that with the gains the University has made of recent in research and innovation, it would only soar higher.

Aladenika reemphasised that the University was anxious to see the NUC carry out its reported plan to
further investigate/action the so-called “illegal campuses” and their proprietors.“

While assuring alumni, parents, students and all stakeholders that the current Management of the University under the leadership of Prof Asomwan Adagbonyin is more determined than before to take the institution to greater heights.