The more I investigate the controversy surrounding the allegation that the Minister of Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji didn’t graduate from UNN in July 1985, the more convinced I am that UNN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya acted very unprofessionally. I graduated from Unilorin and very well know that it is not the duty of a Vice Chancellor to keep academic records. It is the Registrar’s. Even when Premium Times contacted the VC, who, by the way, had barely been in office for two months, the least Prof. Ortuanya should have done was to have minuted the PT letter to the Registrar.
Secondly, the Premium Times’ letter was dated Monday September 29, 2025. By Thursday, October 2, 2025, the VC’s response was ready! Even if Premium Times had sent the letter by DHL on Monday September 29, the earliest it would have arrived in Nsukka, and then the VC’s table, would have been on Wednesday October 1, which was a public holiday! Now, assuming Prof. Ortuanya arrived in his office early on Thursday, October 2, it means the VC read the PT letter, investigated a matter that happened in 1985 (40 years ago) the same day, and replied Premium Times the same day! Prof. Ortuanya deserves a place in the Guinness book of world records for the most efficient public servant in history!
Thirdly, let us scrutinize the VC’s response to PT.
“From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.”
Now, but for vested interests, the VC could simply have said, “From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.” The fact that he added “the current Minister of Science and Technology” to his response smacks of a hatchet job.
If the foregoing smacked of a hatchet job, consider the VC’s follow up paragraph:
“Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology.”
Let’s consider the preceeding paragraph. Aside the fact that the VC kept emphasising “current Minister of Science and Technology,” he also used the words “DID NOT” and “COULD NOT” in capital letters. We all understand what that means, don’t we?
Not convinced his delivery was sufficient, the VC, apparently for good measure, added: “This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter (copy attached).” He offered Premium Times a letter they didn’t request!
Trying to make sense of what’s happening between the Minister of Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, and his alma mater, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, will be futile if we fail to understand the politics of Enugu State, the trajectory of Mr. Peter Mbah’s emergence as governor, and the shape of things to expect in 2027.
The media has been awash with reports that Gov. Mbah is planning on defecting to the APC. The reports have come in fits and starts. Mbah’s people have neither denied nor confirmed the rumours. Whether true or imagined, one thing is certain. Should Mbah decide to move to APC, he’ll have to, first, bulldoze his way through Nnaji. To my mind, the current roforofo between UNN and Minister Nnaji is a mere smokescreen. Prof. Simon Ortuanya, who from all indications, Gov. Mbah helped become UNN VC, may have offered to pay back his master by whatever means necessary, including denting Nnaji with a certificate scandal. The end may be to use the media to blackmail President Tinubu into dropping Nnaji as Minister.
Whatever it is, Nnaji and his supporters are fighting back. They have released documents which appear to contradict the position of the VC. And the documents, including the one I posted here, appear to reinforce the argument that the VC may not have told the entire story.
I welcome your comments.
Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria Nsukka
🎓 1985 Graduating Class
Academic Leadership
• Dr. E.E.C. Okafor – Head of Department
• Dr. N.N. Nwobu – Senior Lecturer
• Dr. S.O. Okafor – Lecturer
Graduating Students
1. Okoro Godson N.
2. Udeh Anthony C.
3. Ijeoma Charles O.
4. Obiekwe C.C.
5. Nnaji Uchenna G. ✅ (highlighted in the image)
6. Ezeaku F.C.
7. Akaneme P.C.
8. Okonkwo Fidelis N.
9. Chukwuma E.E.
10. Nwankwo R.
11. Onyekwelu P.A.
12. Ogbonna A.
13. Umeora F.N.
14. Eze A.N.
15. Nwankwo B.C.
16. Anyaegbunam C.
17. Onah Francis
18. Onwukwe E.
19. Eze A.I.
20. Okafor J.C.
21. Obi S.O.
22. Ogbuagu L.C.
23. Nwankwo C.C.
24. Okeke E.N.
25. Ike E.C.
26. Okeke J.C.
27. Eze R.A.
28. Ogbonna C.C.
29. Ogbu E. N
30. Oji A.E
31. Okafor B. C
(bottom right edge)
🕰️ Historical Note:
This 1985 class produced some of the department’s finest scientists and public figures, including Nnaji Uchenna G., later to become a key national figure and innovator. Their academic jo