Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has lambasted Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, for palnning to award an honorary degree to President Bola Tinubu’s son, Oluwaseyi Tinubu, describing the recognition as fraudulent and undeserved.
The 2023 presidential candidate under the African Action Congress (AAC) questioned the university’s decision, suggesting it lacked merit.
Sowore, a staunch critic of corruption, implied that the institution might punish students who criticise the move, warning that dissenting voices could face repercussions.
“The UNIZIK must have also prepared expulsion letters for students TikTokers, because there will be plenty of stories from this fraudulent honor to Seyi Tinubu,” he said.
He further challenged the basis for the award, asking, “How is Seyi Tinubu qualified for a university honor? What does Seyi Tinubu do besides leveraging Tinubu’s corrupted connections?”
UNIZIK had announced that it would confer honorary degrees on three individuals: Seyi Tinubu, Minister of Health Dr Ali Pate, and industrialist Chief Chika Emenike.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu defended the selection, citing their contributions to society.
“The institution will confer honorary degrees on the Minister of Health, Dr Ali Pate, Oluwaseyi Tinubu, and an industrialist, Chief Chika Emenike.
“These men have been selected because of their track record and the impact they have made in our university and society at large,” Ikechebelu stated.
The honorary awards will be presented during the university’s 19th convocation ceremony, where 8,157 students are expected to graduate. The event, scheduled for March 25, will also feature a convocation lecture by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
However, Sowore argues that honorary degrees should be awarded based on genuine merit rather than political affiliations.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences had threatened to take disciplinary action against a student, Osato Edobor, for posting a video about Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s visit to the state, which highlighted how students humiliated her during the event.
The school issued a query to Edobor over the incident.
The incident occurred on March 25, 2025, during the official visit of the First Lady to the Dome Event Center in Asaba, where she attended the Renewed Hope Initiative Health Programme.
The programme featured the distribution of 10,000 professional kits—comprising Crocs and Scrubs—to midwives across Nigeria’s South-South Zone.
In a letter signed by the Provost of the College, Mrs. Evbodaghe Rita Ogonne, the institution highlighted that the act of recording, singing, and posting the video in question was deemed inappropriate and in violation of the institution’s standards.
According to Evbodaghe, the student’s actions contravened the rules outlined in the Student Handbook, particularly under “Standardised Disciplinary Action for Some Punishable Offences No. 8, Page 21.”
She referred to the incident as a “malicious act” that contravenes the expected behaviour of students during official events.
The letter demands an explanation from Edobor in triplicate within 24 hours of receipt, warning her that failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.
