Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta State, has taken down the profile and photographs of its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, from its official website amid controversy surrounding his use of the title “Professor.”
A check of the university’s website on Tuesday morning showed that Kila’s profile and photographs were no longer listed among the institution’s principal officers.
His profile had previously been displayed alongside those of the university’s proprietress, Cecilia Ibru, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyinka Fuwape.
The development followed a report by PREMIUM TIMES which questioned Kila’s professorial status, stating that its investigation found no evidence that a recognised university had conferred the academic rank of professor on him.
The removal of the profile has, however, not settled the controversy, as the university has yet to publicly explain why Kila’s details were taken down or formally respond to the allegations.
The Vice-Chancellor had earlier indicated that the institution would respond to questions arising from the investigation.
Kila, on his part, has rejected the description of him as a “fake professor”, describing the characterisation as inaccurate, misleading and damaging to his reputation.
In a statement responding to an earlier publication, he insisted that he remained a professor and maintained that his academic and professional credentials supported his use of the title.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am a professor, and I stand by the title and the professional and academic credentials on which it is based,” Kila said.
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He further argued that the report was based on what he considered an incomplete understanding of the origin and institutional basis of his professorship.
Kila said he was prepared to make documents relating to his professorial status available for scrutiny.
He also disclosed that the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies, which he described as being based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, awarded him the professorship in 2016.
Despite the latest removal of his profile from the university’s website, the institution has not publicly stated whether the action was connected to the controversy or taken for another reason.
The dispute therefore remains unresolved, with questions still surrounding Kila’s professorial title and the university’s position on the matter.