The Voice of African Universities (VAU) has condemned what it described as a malicious attempt to blackmail a lecturer and the management of the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Kano.
The condemnation is contained in a statement issued by the organisation’s Vice President for Higher Education Development, Mr. Fafana Khalidou, and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Kano.
According to the statement, the incident occurred after a parent and his daughter allegedly tried to bypass the university’s examination procedures.
It explained that the parent reportedly showed up uninvited at the examination venue and demanded that his daughter be allowed to sit for the exam without the required examination clearance card.
It added that when the supervising lecturer, Dr. M. Adamu, insisted on compliance with the institution’s regulations, the situation escalated into a verbal confrontation.
The parent and student were alleged to have secretly recorded the exchange, edited the footage to misrepresent the lecturer’s actions, and circulated it on social media in an attempt to tarnish the image of the lecturer and the university.
VAU described the act as a calculated attempt to undermine institutional integrity and academic governance.
“No individual — regardless of wealth, family background, or social connections — is above institutional rules. Respect for ethics and due process is the foundation upon which higher education stands,” the statement quoted Khalidou as saying.
The body commended Dr. Adamu for what it termed his measured and principled response during the incident, noting that his conduct demonstrated professionalism under provocation.
“The lecturer’s response — reminding the parent that ethics must be respected regardless of status — was both appropriate and commendable. It is unacceptable for educators to be vilified for upholding standards,” Khalidou added.
VAU also praised the MAAUN management for taking prompt disciplinary and legal steps to address the matter, urging the institution to ensure that those involved face appropriate sanctions in line with university statutes.
The organisation said it would continue to monitor the situation while advocating for stronger measures across African universities to prevent similar incidents.
VAU expressed concern over what it described as an emerging trend where individuals use social influence and social media manipulation to subvert academic rules and undermine merit-based systems.
It, therefore, urged universities across the continent to remain united in defending academic integrity and protecting educators from intimidation and undue pressure.