By Ado Oyeyemi
The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta State, has asked its Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Kila, to step aside from his duties pending an investigation into questions surrounding his professorial credentials.
The university announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday, days after a report raised concerns about the basis of Kila’s use of the title “professor.”
According to the institution, the decision was taken as part of efforts to uphold academic integrity, transparency and sound governance.
The university said Kila had been asked to temporarily relinquish his responsibilities as Pro-Chancellor while the issues raised against him were investigated and the findings concluded.
It explained that the move was necessary to safeguard the integrity of its governance process and sustain the confidence of students, staff, parents, regulators and members of the public.
The university, however, did not disclose how long the investigation would last.
The controversy followed an investigation published on October 3, which reportedly found no evidence that a recognised academic institution had conferred the rank of professor on Kila.
The report also questioned his designation as “Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development”, saying it found no evidence to substantiate the claim.
Kila had reportedly said the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies, which he identified as being based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, awarded him the professorship in 2016.
However, checks reportedly found no evidence of the institution in searches of publicly available records, including the UK Companies House and Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission.
The report also said the European Education and Culture Executive Agency, which oversees the European Union’s Jean Monnet programme, did not list Kila as a Jean Monnet project coordinator.
Kila has rejected the description of him as a “fake professor”, insisting that he remains a professor and stands by the credentials supporting his title.
In a response, he said he was willing to make documents relating to his professorial status available for scrutiny.
The university’s decision came after Kila’s profile, name and photographs were reportedly removed from its website.
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His profile had previously appeared alongside those of the university’s proprietress, Cecilia Ibru, and Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyinka Fuwape.
