Imo State University (IMSU) has sparked controversy by promoting a lecturer, Mr. Michael Anumaka, to the rank of Reader, despite a government white paper recommending his dismissal four years ago over a certificate forgery scandal. Anumaka, a lecturer in the Department of Electrical Electronics Engineering, was implicated in discrepancies in his academic qualifications, including a counterfeit Bachelor’s degree from Clayton University, Missouri, USA, and unverified credentials from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
The Imo State Government’s White Paper, dated July 28, 2020, detailed the findings of a visitation panel that examined IMSU’s operations from 2012 to 2019. The panel, led by former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Prof. Chinedu O. Nebo, concluded that Anumaka lacked the necessary qualifications to hold a lecturer position. The report revealed that Anumaka obtained his O-Level Mathematics credit after completing his Master’s and PhD degrees, a timeline that raised red flags about his academic journey.
Despite these findings, which included a recommendation for his dismissal, Anumaka was recently promoted to the position of Reader—a title indicating a senior academic standing just below that of a full professor. This promotion has raised serious questions about the university’s adherence to due process and the integrity of its academic standards.
When confronted by SaharaReporters, IMSU’s Registrar Julius Osuagwu claimed ignorance of the White Paper, while Anumaka vehemently denied any wrongdoing, insisting that his certificates were legitimate and that the visitation panel’s conclusions were unfounded.
Anumaka’s defense includes claims of possessing an Advanced Diploma and a Postgraduate Diploma from FUTO, though FUTO has denied issuing these qualifications. He also dismissed the significance of his B.Sc. from Clayton University, acknowledging that correspondence certificates are not accepted for employment purposes in Nigeria and asserting that this certificate was not used in his employment or promotion.
The case has reignited debates about academic integrity in Nigerian universities and the enforcement of standards within the educational system. The Imo State Government had explicitly directed IMSU’s Governing Council to dismiss Anumaka, yet this directive appears to have been ignored, leading to his continued ascent within the academic ranks.
