By Amaechi Agbo

The National Universities Commission, NUC has exonerated the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT from malicious report that the first premier science and technology university in Nigeria was operating Satellite Campuses across the country.

The nation’s university regulatory body gave ESUT the clean bill of health in a letter dated August 15, 2024 where the commission commended the efforts of the management of the university in tackling the fake news and expressed its desire to support the institution in tracking down the purveyors of the fabricated news and those using the name of the university to achieve criminal plans.

The letter signed the Acting Director, Open Distance and e-Learning, Dr. Funmilayo Morebise on behalf of the Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission and sent to ESUT Registrar, while commending the university management for their proactive measures to arrest the ugly report, advised the management to involve security agencies in tracking down fraudulent individuals who would wish to use the good image of the university to defraud innocent Nigerians.

The letter titled “Re: Fallacious claim of existence and operation of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) satellite campuses across the country” and made available to ESUT Monitor reads:

“I write at the instance of the Ag. Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 20th June, 2024, with the above subject.

“The Commission notes and commends the effort of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) on the steps taken so far to address the fallacious claims of the existence and operations of ESUT Satellite Campuses across the country.

“Consequently, the Commission may wish to advise the University to use the law enforcement agencies to assist in curbing the ugly trend. The Commission is willing to offer all the necessary assistance and support to the University in this regard.

“Furthermore, the University is advised to sustain its effort in informing and alerting the general public on the fallacious claim of existence and operation of ESUT Satellite Campuses across the country.

“Please accept the assurances of the Age Executive Secretary’s highest regards.”

Speaking in an interview, the Registrar of the University, Chief Ambrose Ugwu said that the university some months ago received information about operation of Satellite Campuses bearing ESUT name in some states in the country.

Chief Ugwu mentioned some of the states to include Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Benue. He however noted that the swift response of the management through its alumni associations in the affected states facilitated nipping the ugly incident in the bud.

“The NUC wrote a letter and commended the management for our proactiveness in responding to the malicious claims of ESUT Satellite Campuses across the country. The moment we got wind of such nefarious actions, we immediately set machineries in motion to checkmate the report and we informed the regulatory body of our innocence. 

“We are in contact with all our alumni associations across the country to be on red alert so that anywhere we get such fake news from, we will report to the security agency for prompt action,” he said.

The Registrar noted that people are capitalizing on the rising high profile of the university as the best state university in the country to defraud people and advised the general public to always check for authentic information about ESUT by visiting the university’s portal.