₦airaland Forum

The more I investigate the controversy surrounding the allegation that the Minister of Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji didn't graduate from UNN in July 1985, the more convinced I am that UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya acted very unprofessionally. I graduated from Unilorin and very well know that it is not the duty of a Vice Chancellor to keep academic records. It is the Registrar's. Even when Premium Times contacted the VC, who, by the way, had barely been in office for two months, the least Prof. Ortuanya should have done was to have minuted the PT letter to the Registrar.

Secondly, the Premium Times' letter was dated Monday September 29, 2025. By Thursday, October 2, 2025, the VC's response was ready! Even if Premium Times had sent the letter by DHL on Monday September 29, the earliest it would have arrived in Nsukka, and then the VC's table, would have been on Wednesday October 1, which was a public holiday! Now, assuming Prof. Ortuanya arrived in his office early on Thursday, October 2, it means the VC read the PT letter, investigated a matter that happened in 1985 (40 years ago) the same day, and replied Premium Times the same day! Prof. Ortuanya deserves a place in the Guinness book of world records for the most efficient public servant in history!

Thirdly, let us scrutinize the VC's response to PT.
"From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka."

Now, but for vested interests, the VC could simply have said, "From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka." The fact that he added "the current Minister of Science and Technology" to his response smacks of a hatchet job.

If the foregoing smacked of a hatchet job, consider the VC's follow up paragraph:
"Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology."

Let's consider the preceeding paragraph. Aside the fact that the VC kept emphasising "current Minister of Science and Technology," he also used the words "DID NOT" and "COULD NOT" in capital letters. We all understand what that means, don't we?

Not convinced his delivery was sufficient, the VC, apparently for good measure, added: "This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter (copy attached).” He offered Premium Times a letter they didn't request!
Trying to make sense of what's happening between the Minister of Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, and his alma mater, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, will be futile if we fail to understand the politics of Enugu State, the trajectory of Mr. Peter Mbah's emergence as governor, and the shape of things to expect in 2027.
The media has been awash with reports that Gov. Mbah is planning on defecting to the APC. The reports have come in fits and starts. Mbah's people have neither denied nor confirmed the rumours. Whether true or imagined, one thing is certain. Should Mbah decide to move to APC, he'll have to, first, bulldoze his way through Nnaji. To my mind, the current roforofo between UNN and Minister Nnaji is a mere smokescreen. Prof. Simon Ortuanya, who from all indications, Gov. Mbah helped become UNN VC, may have offered to pay back his master by whatever means necessary, including denting Nnaji with a certificate scandal. The end may be to use the media to blackmail President Tinubu into dropping Nnaji as Minister.

Whatever it is, Nnaji and his supporters are fighting back. They have released documents which appear to contradict the position of the VC. And the documents, including the one I posted here, appear to reinforce the argument that the VC may not have told the entire story.
I welcome your comments.
Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria Nsukka
🎓 1985 Graduating Class
Academic Leadership
• Dr. E.E.C. Okafor – Head of Department
• Dr. N.N. Nwobu – Senior Lecturer
• Dr. S.O. Okafor – Lecturer
Graduating Students
1. Okoro Godson N.
2. Udeh Anthony C.
3. Ijeoma Charles O.
4. Obiekwe C.C.
5. Nnaji Uchenna G. ✅ (highlighted in the image)
6. Ezeaku F.C.
7. Akaneme P.C.
8. Okonkwo Fidelis N.
9. Chukwuma E.E.
10. Nwankwo R.
11. Onyekwelu P.A.
12. Ogbonna A.
13. Umeora F.N.
14. Eze A.N.
15. Nwankwo B.C.
16. Anyaegbunam C.
17. Onah Francis
18. Onwukwe E.
19. Eze A.I.
20. Okafor J.C.
21. Obi S.O.
22. Ogbuagu L.C.
23. Nwankwo C.C.
24. Okeke E.N.
25. Ike E.C.
26. Okeke J.C.
27. Eze R.A.
28. Ogbonna C.C.
29. Ogbu E. N
30. Oji A.E
31. Okafor B. C
(bottom right edge)
🕰️ Historical Note:
This 1985 class produced some of the department’s finest scientists and public figures, including Nnaji Uchenna G., later to become a key national figure and innovator.

Dijita:
Are you saying a student graduated from university in 1985 and this is all the proof you can monster. No picture in graduating gown with some of his class members.

Dijita:
Are you saying a student graduated from university in 1985 and this is all the proof you can monster. No picture in graduating gown with some of his class members.

yorosstores:
We know you people, you think pictures are common to come by those days. kai small children will never understand the struggle.

I am young, graduated in 2008 and do not have graduation pictures at all, because i did not attend the graduation.

Dalohad:
Whatever you politicians do, please leave our institutes of learning alone.

It will be destructive to the image of Nigerian tertiary institutes, for the world to learn that a VC can be bribed to hide the result of a former student, in order to achieve a political aim or settle a political score.

I hope the VC looked well before rushing to press. If the VC is found to have dragged the revered name of UNN into the murky waters of politics, he should be made to resign, arrested and jail. He is one of the reasons Nigerians are mocked and unduly scritinized globally.

His professorship should be withdrawn. If the government of the day cannot ensure that. Pressure groups and civil societies should write to US embassy and have him and his family blacklisted for visa bans.

I finished from Nigerian Universities and if any VC decides to hide my certificate because I joined politics, I will chase him and his family to the ends of the earth to make him pay.

I sincerely hope this is not the case in this Nnaji Vs UNN case.

Do not tamper with the sacredness of our institutes of learning. It is off-limit for toxic politics.

Dijita:
Are you saying a student graduated from university in 1985 and this is all the proof you can monster. No picture in graduating gown with some of his class members.

Dijita:
Are you saying a student graduated from university in 1985 and this is all the proof you can monster. No picture in graduating gown with some of his class members.

Dijita:
Are you saying a student graduated from university in 1985 and this is all the proof you can monster. No picture in graduating gown with some of his class members.

adenigga:
Those familiar with the matter said Mr Nnaji initiated the case to block the university from releasing details of his academic sojourn in the institution to anyone, including PREMIUM TIMES. He is also said to desire a transcript to refresh his memory regarding where he dropped out of university.


However, in paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34-paragraph verifying affidavit supporting the motion, Mr Nnaji made a stunning revelation, accusing UNN officials of refusing to issue him a certificate and, in the process, confirming that he never collected one.

In paragraph 12, he stated that the university admitted him in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, and that he completed the programme and “graduated” in 1985.

But paragraph 13 contained the explosive admission:

“That even though I am yet to collect my certificate from the 3rd Defendant (UNN), due largely to the non-cooperative attitude of the 3rd–5th Defendants (UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar), the 3rd Defendant issued a letter dated 21st December 2023 to People’s Gazette (attention: Samuel Ogundipe) which stated amongst other things as follows:

‘This is to confirm that Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Hons.) Lower Division.’”

The letter, signed by UNN Registrar Celine Nnebedum, was sent to the People’s Gazette in response to an enquiry. But its contents have since been invalidated.

Mrs Nnebedum later recanted in a letter to the Public Complaints Commission (PCC) in May 2025, stating that the university searched its 1985 graduation records but could not find Mr Nnaji’s name.


Similarly, UNN Vice-Chancellor Ortuanya confirmed in a letter dated 3 October 2025 and addressed to PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by the university.

A senior university official told PREMIUM TIMES that the institution investigated Mrs Nnebedum’s letter and concluded that: “It is either some people in the records office were influenced or manipulated to cover up for Nnaji, or it was a sincere mistake by the registry.”

The official added: “The truth of the matter is that he (Mr Nnaji) never graduated from here. His file is intact. It contains details up to the point where he dropped out.”


Source: https://dailytrust.com/alleged-forgery-unn-never-issued-me-degree-certificate-minister

streetsoldier1:
No be everybody dey snap picture ....

I was a photographer in School and during my convication, i was very busy pictures for people and families that hired, i cashed out massively....

Does that now mean i didnt graduate?

anonimi:
Where did you learn that the minister was a photographer during the graduation ceremony of his peers

Dijita:
Are you saying a student graduated from university in 1985 and this is all the proof you can monster. No picture in graduating gown with some of his class members.

Dijita:
Are you saying a student graduated from university in 1985 and this is all the proof you can monster. No picture in graduating gown with some of his class members.

yorosstores:
We know you people, you think pictures are common to come by those days. kai small children will never understand the struggle.

I am young, graduated in 2008, and do not have graduation pictures at all, because I did not attend the graduation.