From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The East Carolina University, United States of America (USA), has tendered unreserved apology to Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje over controversial award of Visiting Professor by a confirmed member of its Faculty.
The US Citadel of Higher Learning in an apology letter addressed to Governor Ganduje, expressed regret of any embarrassment that might have resulted from the recent controversy regarding the appointment of Governor Ganduje to the position of Senior Mentoring Scholar and Visiting Full Professor of E-governance and International Affairs on November 30, 2020.
According to a Statement released by the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba on Tuesday, “in a reply to a letter sent by the government of Kano state over the issue and addressed to the Governor, the university also acknowledged the Governor’s educational accomplishments, saying that ‘you demonstrate appropriate credentials generally held by those appointed to faculty positions.”
The Statement added that, “the letter, which was signed by the Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. B. Grant Hayes, said that the content of the letter earlier sent to the Governor was not the intention of the university to cause any embarrassment.”
Malam Garba further quoted the letter as saying, “I regret that this situation has caused any embarrassment, as that was not the intention of Carolina University, nor was it the reason for my letter.”
The AUTHORITY recalls that Kano state Government demanded for an unequivocal apology from the management of East Carolina University over a controversial appointment offered Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje into the position of Senior Mentoring Scholar and Visiting Full Professor of e-governance and International Affairs in the university on November 30, 2020.
A Statement by the Secretary to the Kano State Government (SSG), Alhaji Usman Alhaji also called for a disciplinary action against the Faculty member that stirred up the controversy which attempted to embarrass the Governor Ganduje and the good people of Kano state.
According to the Statement, “while the Governor or any official of his government has no reason to doubt the veracity of the letter sent by one of its faculty members, which was communicated using the university’s instrument of office, it equally did not at any time solicit for such appointment.
‘’We are deeply saddened by the uproar stirred up by this controversial appointment that attempted to embarrass the person of the governor and the good people of Kano state,“ the statement added.
Alhaji Usman further stated that Governor Ganduje obtained a National Certificate in Education (NCE) 1972, a Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, 1975; two Master’s Degrees in Applied Educational Psychology from Bayero University, Kano (BUK) 1979; and Public Administration also from ABU 1985, as well as a Ph.D. which he obtained nearly three decades ago from the University of Ibadan in South West Nigeria.
The SSG said that given this background as an academician of repute, “the Governor would be the last person on earth to have neither solicit nor accept fraudulently appointment into academic position in any university or institution of higher learning within and outside Nigeria.
“While wishing the University the best of luck, the statement expressed deep shock over the content of the letter from the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University, admitting an error in conveying the message notifying the appointment.”
