CERTIFICATES FOR SALE: THE HORROR STORY OF HOW UNN RAKES IN N300 MILLION FROM SALES OF ACADEMIC DEGREES

Secret Reporters

Revolution cannot be possible when the people are not ready to cooperate. The rat race and craze for degrees has caused many to engage in illegalities to get degrees; either as givers or receivers. With the numerous bribery instances going on in our tertiary institutions, turned an island of perpetrators, it is a big relief to know that there are still Crusoes who frown at it. Ikwue Eche James is one of those, who has brought to Secret Reporters notice that Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri an affiliate of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) sells degree certificates to people.

Eche is a Funds Recovery and Forgery Detection Consultant to Alvan Ikoku Federal college of education.

While on the job he recovered over 300 million Naira from fraudulent practices and also noticed several misconducts including but not limited to the sales of degrees certificates by the said Institutions. As always nothing was done about these without minding the throngs of mediocre churned out from the school daily, who have become square pegs in round holes. Eche wrote to the Principal of UNN informing them of his observations but it was met with futility. All efforts on his side to put a stop to all of it were all in vain.

This triggered his decision to write to all concerned government bodies/agencies like the EFCC, ICPC, NUC, CODE OF CONDUCT BUREAU, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, and the PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, MUHHAMADU BUHARI.

The above listed agencies had been rightly informed for over two months and no action/investigation has been carried out to put a stop to this apparent rust on our educational system, our findings revealed. It is a clear contradiction to the imaginary corruption fight the administration is fighting.

It is obvious here that the Federal Government agencies are trying to sweep this toxic societal act under the carpet, sit on it and watch it fade.

Acting on these grounds, Eche has gone the extra mile to expose one of the beneficiaries who has in his possession a sold degree. The ‘beneficiary’ is a Serving Civil Defense Officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is a relative of the Registrar Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri. Mrs. A.N Aguta. This is outrightly blamed on the incompetence and unvigilant nature of the entire management of UNN. It is a clear sarcasm that a man who has been to the university or who has never contributed to societal development could be found worthy in learning and in character in the Brochure of the Prestigious UNN. Below is a detailed summary of his presumed educational qualification.

NAME: EJIOFOR SAM CHIGOZIE

DEPARTMENT: EDUCATION POLICTICAL SCIENCE

REG NO: BD/03/18176

SECOND CLASS HONOURS

CGPA: 3.45

DATE OF BIRTH: 21/5/1962

STATE OF ORIGIN: IMO STATE

SERIAL NUMBER: 28

PAGE NO: 165

UNN CONVOCATION BROCHURE: 19^TH FEBUARY 2016.

While Nigerians grumble daily under the weight of a decayed educational system, Eche’s revelation has unearthed that key players of it are the greatest contributors to the fall of the educational system. The society can never progress if its educational sector is a sham. Whilst the struggle to correct some of the ills done by the kleptomaniac lords who steal the consciences is ongoing, the biting of the chunks is still done; with the shutting up of voices who try to be heard, and the lunacy belief by the society that things like this are utterly normal, experts noted that it is useless to conceal the fact that our educational system is a caricature of what education should be.

This is a deceptive act by the UNN on the minds of the people.

However, Eche has dared the mare of challenging the management of UNN and their affiliate institution, AIFCE to prove him wrong by charging him to court. He has also urged Nigerians to spread the ill doings of the UNN and AIFCE until their voices are heard.