Foster Ogola
A Nigerian lawmaker, Foster Ogola, has taken his spot on the notorious list of outstanding Nigerians with certificates scandals hooked up to their names.
Just a few weeks in the past, a personal report was once made making use of the Leaks.NG platform hinting that the senator, currently representing Bayelsa West senatorial district, has false credentials from an unaccredited university in Nigeria.
Sen. Foster Ogola has a fake PhD. His reliable profile on the NASS website says he has a PhD from GMF Christian college. There is not any reputable web page for the school and it is not accepted with the aid of the NUC. There is additionally no study paper or thesis to his title on-line. Even though he acquired the measure in 2012, the record alerted.
On his professional country wide meeting profile, the senator is credited with having a PhD in Christian leadership from the GMF Christian tuition Lagos, the equal path he reportedly has an MSc. In from the Imo State institution, Owerri.
Upon enquiry through the global Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), it used to be revealed that the federal executive has not licenced the GMF Christian tuition, Lagos, where Mr Ogola claims to have earned his PhD from in 2012.
NUC reacts
The Director of corporate Communications of the country wide Universities fee (NUC), Ibrahim Yakasai, used to be contacted on the validity of the college.
we've certainly not heard of that title,he said.
A replica of the fees weekly bulletin offered through Mr Yakasai showed a record of fifty seven illegal universities operating within the country; GMF Christian college was once not among, buttressing the truth that the fee is even no longer aware of its existence.
The director also mentioned that seeing that 1999, the NUC has accredited 74 private universities within the nation and any certificate got from the GMF Christian university or some other measure mill is probably not recognized by their authority.
Different discoveries made by using Leaks.NG coalition informed that the GMF Christian school nonetheless has no website offering understanding on the tuition or its publications and there is not any expertise on the Christian management direction the embattled senator purports to have a PhD in.
Top rate occasions reached out to Mr Ogola, who's the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on understanding verbal exchange technological know-how and Cybercrime, to converse on the allegations levelled in opposition to him together with attending an unlawful university and acquiring a fake certificate.
certificate.
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alternatively than answer the questions raised, the lawmaker recounted that the allegations could be a made from mischief makers with a skills to foment distraction from weighty issues of state.
On the unaccredited GMF Christian institution, the senator was once requested if there was an exemption from the NUC on the Christian management course which Mr Ogola purportedly has a doctorate degree in.
When did students or merchandise of universities turn out to be accrediting bodies?,the lawmaker stated definitely no longer addressing the query.
In an attempt to confirm GMF Christian tuitions existence and appreciate how it operates in Nigeria, a member of the Leaks.NG coalition, TheCable, paid the academy a talk over with.
The Cable traced the Gospel Missionary basis (GMF) Theological tuition to 165 Isolo street, Cele bus stop, Egbe-Ikotun, Lagos.
It was once revealed that the controversial institution lies on the first ground of a two-storey constructing. Apart from the one and only classroom, which was empty at the time of seek advice from, there are about three different rooms serving as offices.
Hope Obioha, the registrar and spouse of the president of the university, Daniel Obioha, who claimed to be a professor, acquired the reporter who went there under the guise of a potential student.
She took the reporter to her workplace the place she presented him to the institution and the courses it offers.
In keeping with the materials given, GMF Christian Theological school was centered on could 4, 1988 and is registered with the aid of the Federal govt of Nigeria.
It says it seeks to fulfil its dedication to man or woman targeted ministry calling, by way of graduate schooling, respectable development and religious formation in all its pursuits including teaching, nurturing, worship, service, study, newsletter and missions.
Mr Obioha and his wife based the university. When asked if the NUC has approved the school, the registrar stated that they do not function like a secular institution, consequently, the college will not be registered under NUC.
She offered the accreditation certificates of the tuition by way of some worldwide our bodies. Tests published that the entire bodies that gave the debatable accreditation should not have a web-based presence.
Nonetheless, some of the materials she launched involves the graduating list from 2013 to 2016.
It is helpful to note that 2012 is the yr Mr Ogola claims to have got his PhD in Christian leadership.
Additionally, the Christian management direction was not reflected in the list of courses supplied by the unlawful institution at doctorate stage.
On a 2nd seek advice from to the GMF Christian institution on March 13, the centre was once empty again as the person who offered himself as a lecturer said it used to be examination time.
He mentioned at the same time the entire-time students attend lectures on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the phase-time students go on Saturdays on my own.
He used to be reluctant to unencumber the list of folks who graduated in 2012, but the reporter acquired a Skye financial institution account of the institution with the intention to pay for the admission process for a diploma in theology at the finish of each visits, TheCable was once nonetheless unable to establish the veracity of the senators claim that he attended the school and has a PhD. In the Christian management.
The top rate times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) was once unable to find any Christian leadership course provided via any institution in Nigeria.
Nevertheless, a college in Boston, U.S. Defined that the path teaches the best way to observe biblical and theological principles to leadership occasions. Guides may duvet themes corresponding to, cultural diversity, Christian ethics and Church historical past. Students may must entire an internship or subject expertise amongst other matters.
In an try and confirm the senators contribution to legislative movements, OrderPaper NG also reached out to his office in the country wide assembly to investigate about expenditures he has subsidized or motions he has raised.
His legislative aides proved highly unhelpful, claiming they could now not expose any information with out Mr Ogolas approval.
A fast search via national meeting archives shows that the senator has backed two expenditures. One in all them was once stood down.
Despite the fact that credited with contributing to motions and debates on the ground, there may be nothing distinct Mr Ogola has spearheaded in the course of his tenure.
Not the first time
Nigerian lawmakers have come beneath fireplace for a barrage of causes today. From their gargantuan salaries to unproductive and unsatisfactory illustration, primarily in the implementation of constituency tasks, the countrywide assembly has had a tumultuous ride thus far.
Moreover to the above, lawmakers who reportedly own false educational certificates from questionable associations are actually being found out. Nevertheless, it is most important to notice that this did not begin with the eighth meeting. Due to the fact the inception of the contemporary democracy in Nigeria, lawmakers were uncovered for this wrongdoing.
In 1999, for illustration, a former Speaker of the condo of Representatives, Salisu Buhari, was once entangled in a few lies that led him into the Hollowed Chambers. The disgraced lawmaker had falsified his age and academic endowments, claiming he had attended the institution of Toronto, Canada. This was refuted via the academy, while the Ahmadu Bello college, Kaduna State, had expelled him for making use of fake credentials to gain admission.
The embattled lawmaker finally came out to apologise to the country.
Also, a serving senator, Dino Melaye, incorporated Harvard school and the London institution of Economics and Political Science as one of the faculties he attended. This turned out to be false, as each associations denied his studentship.
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Daniel-Dino-Melaye
On March 30, a member of the house of Representatives, Nse Ekpenyong, used to be arraigned on the Federal excessive courtroom, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for the alleged forgery of a polytechnic diploma.
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