An American university, East Carolina University, ECU, has denied appointing Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State as a visiting professor.
Recall that Mr Ganduje’s Chief Press Secretary, Abba Anwar, in a statement on Tuesday disclosed the governor’s appointment through a letter sent to him on November 30 by one the school through Victor Mbarika, a lecturer of International Center for IT and Development at the university.
According to Mr Anwar, the governor was selected due to his “accomplishment in good governance and genuine investment in human capital development.”
However, Premium Times sent an email to the university on Thursday asking if the institution actually offered the said appointment to Mr Ganduje, despite being caught on video in 2018 accepting bribe.
In response to our email, the university attached the letter it sent to Mr Ganduje.
The letter was signed by its Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, B. Grant Hayes.
“It has been brought to my attention that you received a letter from a faculty member dated November 30, 2020, that appeared to offer an unpaid appointment in the “International Center for IT and Development” at East Carolina University College of Business.
“I must inform you that the letter you received from Dr. Victor Mbarika, on November 30, 2020 does not convey an authorized offer of appointment or establish any position of scholar or professor at East Carolina University (“ECU”).
“Only the Chancellor, myself, or another official identified in ECU’s published statement on Delegation of Contracting Authority for the Division of Academic Affairs may authorize or sign appointment letters under which faculty are employed. Dr. Mbarika is not such an official,” the official told Mr Ganduje.
