The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, has moved to contain a growing controversy over the academic credentials of its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, suspending him from office pending an investigation into claims surrounding his professorial title.
The university’s action followed a report by PREMIUM TIMES which questioned the basis of Kila’s use of the title “Professor” and his claim to have been awarded the designation by the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies (ECAPS), said to be based in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the university said Kila had been asked to step aside from his responsibilities as Pro-Chancellor while the issues raised in the report were examined and findings established.
The institution said the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of its governance structures and maintain public confidence in the university.
It said the suspension was also consistent with its commitment to academic integrity, transparency and “the highest standards of institutional governance.”
The university, however, did not disclose the duration of the investigation or indicate when its findings would be released.
The controversy centres on Kila’s professorial status, which PREMIUM TIMES said it could not independently verify through recognised academic records.
The publication reported that its checks found no evidence that a recognised university had conferred the rank of professor on Kila.
It also questioned his use of the designation “Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development,” which he attributed to ECAPS in 2016.
According to the report, searches of publicly available records, including the UK Companies House and Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission, did not establish the existence of the institution Kila identified as the awarding body.
Kila, however, has rejected the description of him as a “fake professor,” maintaining that he is a professor and defending the credentials upon which his title is based.
The university’s decision now places the disputed credentials under institutional scrutiny, with the outcome of the investigation expected to determine the next step regarding Kila’s position as Pro-Chancellor.
