Michael and Cecilia Ibru University suspends Pro-Chancellor Anthony Kila
Michael and Cecilia Ibru University in Delta State has asked its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, to step aside pending an investigation into his professorial status. The decision followed a report questioning whether a recognised institution awarded him the title of professor.
What the institution said
Michael and Cecilia Ibru University is located in Delta State.
“The Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta State, has asked its Pro-Chancellor”
Anthony Kila is the Pro-Chancellor of Michael and Cecilia Ibru University.
“its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, to step aside from his responsibilities”
The university asked Kila to step aside pending an investigation into questions about his professorial status.
“to step aside from his responsibilities pending an investigation into questions surrounding his professorial status”
The decision was announced in a statement released on Tuesday.
“The decision was announced in a statement released on Tuesday”
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The statement was released three days after an investigation was published questioning the basis of Kila's professorial title.
“three days after an investigation was published questioning the basis of Kila’s professorial title”
The university said the decision was in line with its commitment to academic integrity, transparency, and the highest standards of institutional governance.
“academic integrity, transparency, and the highest standards of institutional governance”
The university said Anthony Kila has been requested to step aside from his responsibilities as Pro-Chancellor while the issues raised are addressed, investigated, and findings concluded.
“Anthony Kila has been requested to step aside from his responsibilities as Pro-Chancellor while the issues raised are being addressed, investigated, and findings concluded”
The university did not disclose how long the investigation would take.
“The university did not disclose how long the investigation would take”
PREMIUM TIMES reported on October 3 that its investigation found no evidence that a recognised academic institution had awarded Kila the rank of professor.
“PREMIUM TIMES reported on October 3 that its investigation found no evidence”
The investigation examined Kila's use of the designation Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development and found no evidence supporting the claim.
“his use of the designation “Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development” and found no evidence supporting the claim”
Kila told the online platform that the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies, which he said was based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, awarded him the professorship in 2016.
“awarded him the professorship in 2016”
Checks by the online newspaper found no evidence that the institution existed, following searches of the UK Companies House, Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission and other publicly available sources.
“found no evidence that the institution existed, following searches of the UK Companies House”
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency, which administers the European Union's Jean Monnet programme, did not list Kila as a Jean Monnet project coordinator.
“did not list Kila as a Jean Monnet project coordinator”
Kila rejected the description of him as a fake professor, insisting that he remained a professor and stood by the credentials on which his title was based.
“Kila subsequently rejected the description of him as a “fake professor””
In a response reported by PUNCH Online on Monday, Kila said he was prepared to make documents concerning his professorial status available.
“In a response reported by PUNCH Online on Monday, Kila said he was prepared”
Kila's name, profile and photographs had been removed from the institution's website.
“Kila’s name, profile and photographs had been removed from the institution’s website”
Kila's profile had previously appeared alongside those of the university's proprietress, Cecilia Ibru, and its Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyinka Fuwape.
“alongside those of the university’s proprietress, Cecilia Ibru, and its Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyinka Fuwape”
All 17 facts in this piece were located word for word in the institution's own notice before it was published.
Read the original notice
Punch, educationPublished by the institution on Tue, 06 Oct 2026 19:51:44 +0000. We summarise and link; we do not reproduce their notice.
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