UNILAG Denies Issuing Osun Poly Rector Degree

The University of Lagos, Akoka, says the embattled rector of Igbajo Polytechnic, Igbajo, Osun State, Akinola Olaolu, did not obtain a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the institution.

The Principal Assistant Registrar, Communications Unit, University of Lagos, Mrs Taiwo Oloyede, said the institution did not have a record of him.

This is just as Prof. Chibuzo Nwoke, the Vice-Chancellor of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Ile Ife, Osun State, where the rector worked in 2012, said Olaolu’s credentials were fraudulent.

He noted that Olaolu left the institution over the questionable credentials.

Both Oloyede and Nwoke spoke on Wednesday while responding to enquiries from reporters

Reports say that there was a crisis at the Igbajo Polytechnic, a community-owned tertiary institution in Osun State, over the PhD certificate of the rector.

Solacebase gathered that Olaolu came into the school in December 2015 as a deputy rector to the former rector, Tanimowo Oke.

However, because Olaolu claimed to have a PhD in Economics from the University of Ibadan, his arrival reportedly led to the removal of Oke, who had a master’s degree as of then.

More than eight months after his arrival, he was reported to have refused to produce his purported PhD certificate, as he submitted only a notification of result to obtain the job.

The Director of Public Communications University of Ibadan , Mr Olatunji Oladejo, said the varsity had no record of the rector.

The UI spokesperson said Olaolu’s purported matriculation number was fraudulent, adding that he did not have any record in the school’s thesis bank.

When the rector  was confronted with UI’s position on the notification of result, he said he had just obtained his certificate from the school.

The university’s spokesperson, Oladejo, said the school’s vice-chancellor, registrar and the head of the postgraduate school had seen the document, adding that it was fraudulent.