AAU disowns satellite campuses, wants operators arrested

Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State, has called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute any operator of satellite campuses, as the state-owned university has not given permission to anyone to run any satellite campus on its behalf, either directly or indirectly.

The university’s Head of Corporate Communications and Protocol, Mike Ade Aladenika, who disclosed this in a statement at the weekend in Benin City, denied a recent report in a national newspaper, credited to the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), alleging the existence of satellite campuses being run in the name of the university and awarding certificates.

While applauding the reported NUC decision to “investigate the proprietors and recover illegal fees and charges on subscribers”, Aladenika charged the body to arrest and prosecute anyone found to be running such illegal campuses.

The spokesman declared that the school’s Senate had neither approved any satellite campus anywhere nor approved that certificates be awarded in the name of the university to anyone emerging as “product” from such illegal campuses.

He said: “We have continued to emphasise this. We are glad that by reportedly using the tag “illegal” for such satellite campuses, the NUC is on the same page with us.”

Anything that the university has not approved is illegal, null and void. Ambrose Alli University is a respected institution of over 40 years old, which has produced world class alumni. Its current student population stands at more than 36,000.”