We have arrived, yet again, at a perverse juncture in our public life: a place where a career built over a lifetime can be undermined by baseless insinuation, even as the institutional records that embody the truth are conveniently overlooked.
For days, a cloud of suspicion hung over Chief Uche Nnaji Nwakabia’s academic credentials, fueled by murmurs and insinuations that spread through our media like wildfire. I watched this drama with growing unease, wondering when someone would simply go to the source and ask the only question that mattered: what do the official records say?
That question has now been answered with unequivocal clarity. The Office of the Registrar at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka – the proper custodian of such truths – has broken its silence. In a formal letter dated December 21, 2023, the institution confirms what should never have been in doubt: Chief Uche Nnaji Nwakabia was admitted in 1981 and graduated in 1985. There it is – plain, simple, and authoritative. The matter should be settled. Yet, the very definitiveness of this statement makes the events of recent days all the more troubling.
The timeline of this affair reveals much about the state of our public discourse. While some media outlets, like People Gazette, followed proper journalistic protocol by filing formal inquiries with the university, others took a different path, Chinagorom Ugwu of Premium Times particularly distinguished himself by rushing to publish allegations that appear to have crumbled upon first contact with actual evidence. One wonders what urgency compelled such recklessness. Was there a deadline more important than the truth? An agenda more pressing than factual accuracy?
But the real tragedy here extends beyond journalistic failings. The conduct of UNN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ortuanya, has been nothing short of bewildering. How does a man entrusted with safeguarding the integrity of one of Nigeria’s premier institutions find himself embroiled in what appears to be a politically motivated witch hunt? I’ve spoken with several academics in recent days, and the consistent theme in our conversations has been one of profound embarrassment. This is not how a university of our standing should behave.
The human cost of this unfortunate drama deserves more attention than it has received. Put yourself in Chief Nnaji’s position for a moment. Here is a man who dedicated his youth to academic pursuit, who walked the halls of UNN four decades ago, who built a career and reputation spanning generations. Now, in what should be the pinnacle of his public service, he finds himself defending the most basic facts of his personal history. There is something deeply cruel about forcing a man to prove his past, particularly when the evidence has been readily available all along.
I recall similar tactics being employed against other public servants in recent years, and it speaks to a worrying trend in our political culture. We have become so focused on destroying reputations that we have forgotten how to evaluate actual governance. The energy expended on this manufactured controversy could have been directed toward examining policies, scrutinizing development projects, or engaging in substantive debate about our nation’s future. Or even best, how Nigeria journalists are poorly paid leading to some of the hatchet jobs we see in our media space most times. Instead, we have been treated to this hollow spectacle – this desperate grasping at nonexistent scandals.
Truth has a way of asserting itself, no matter how many voices try to shout it down. Those ink stamped records in the university’s archives don’t care about political affiliations or election cycles. They simply record what happened. The 1981 admission, the 1985 graduation – these are facts that exist independently of anyone’s ambition or agenda.
What troubles me most, as I reflect on this affair, is what it says about our institutions. When a great university like UNN becomes a battlefield for political warfare, when its internal governance appears compromised by external pressures, we all suffer. The credibility of our academic institutions represents a sacred trust between generations. It is the foundation upon which future students build their dreams, the guarantee that their achievements will be recognised and respected. We tamper with this foundation at our peril.
Now that the truth has emerged, we are left with pressing questions that demand answers. Who orchestrated this campaign of character assassination? What did they hope to achieve? And how can we prevent our public discourse from being poisoned by such transparently malicious tactics in future?
Prof. Ortuanya owes the Nigerian public more than silence. He needs to explain how this situation was allowed to develop, and what steps he will take to repair the damage done to UNN’s reputation. The academics I have spoken with are watching closely, concerned that their institution’s hard-won prestige is being sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.
In the final analysis, this episode represents more than just a political skirmish. It is a test of our collective commitment to truth and decency in public life. The records have spoken. The facts are clear. The question now is whether we will learn the right lessons from this sorry affair, or continue to allow our public discourse to be dominated by those who value power over truth.
Discussion about this post