Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has sought for an apology from the management of an American university, East Carolina University (ECU) following the controversial ‘appointment’.

This came days after Ganduje’s spokesperson, Abba Anwar revealed that he was appointed as a visiting professor of e-governance and International Affairs in the institution. Anwar said news of the appointment was conveyed in a letter sent by Victor Mbarika, a lecturer of International Center for IT and Development at the school on November 30.

News of the appointment was however debunked by the university’s Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr Grant Hayes, in a letter to Ganduje, dated December 4, 2020.

The letter titled ‘Re: Unavailability of Faculty Appointment,’ read;

“It has been brought to my attention that you received a letter from a faculty member dated November 30, 2020, that appeared to offer an unpaid appointment in the “International Center for IT and Development” at East Carolina University College of Business.

“I must inform you that the letter you received from Dr. Victor Mbarika, on November 30, 2020 does not convey an authorized offer of appointment or establish any position of scholar or professor at East Carolina University (“ECU”). Only the Chancellor, myself, or another official identified in ECU’s published statement on Delegation of Contracting Authority for the Division of Academic Affairs may authorize or sign appointment letters under which faculty are employed.”

The Kano state government which reacted to this in a statement released by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji on Sunday December 6, asked the university to sanction Victor Mbarika. The state government added that they are saddened by the uproar stirred up by the controversial appointment that attempted to embarrass Mr Ganduje.

Usman who maintained that Ganduje did not solicit appointments in any university or institution of higher learning within and outside Nigeria, added that the Governor is shocked over the content of the letter from the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University.

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