ABU denies alleged intent to withdraw Abdullahi’s degree

The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has denied claims that it intends to withdraw the degree, that the university awarded to the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Abdullahi.

Abdullahi was said to have made comments on the integrity test of University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS), a payment platform developed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which necessitated the reaction of ABU management, at the weekend.

A statement by the Director of Public Affairs of the university, Auwalu Umar, reads: “The attention of Management of Ahmadu Bello University has been drawn to a report alleging that the institution had, in March 2022, threatened to withdraw the Bachelor degree of the Director-General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Abdullahi, over comments on integrity tests for UTAS.”

Umar noted that the report online by a national daily was purportedly issued from the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment. He, therefore, pointed out that “the University Management wishes to state categorically that at no time did ABU issue such a threat.”

Umar said: “After all, Abdullahi, from the records available, never attended Ahmadu Bello University for any academic programme, be it undergraduate, graduate or sub-degree.”

He explained that this clarification has become necessary, essentially for the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment, as well as members of the public to take note.”