The European-American University has disowned an alleged honorary doctorate degree recently conferred on popular Hausa musician, Dauda Kahutu Rarara, describing the award as fraudulent.
The degree was presented to Rarara during a ceremony held on Saturday at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, attended by dignitaries including Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda. Organisers of the event had claimed to represent the university.
In a statement on its official website, the institution categorically denied involvement, insisting it never authorised the event or conferred any degrees on Rarara or other recipients named at the ceremony.
“The University has not authorized any convocation to be held in this location today, and this event has been organized fraudulently without the knowledge or consent of the University,” the statement read.
The university also clarified that individuals who paraded themselves as its representatives — including Musari Audu Isyaku, who claimed to be its Northern Nigeria representative, and Idris Aliyu, who posed as a governing council member — had no authority to act on its behalf. It stressed that it does not operate a governing council and announced the revocation of Aliyu’s fellowship over his role in the scheme.
The institution further clarified that its current Vice Chancellor is Professor Luca Scotto di Tella de’ Douglas di Castel di Ripa, not Dr Josephine Egbuta, a former VC dismissed earlier this year. It also refuted claims of being based in Dominica and Panama, stating that it is legally registered in France and holds a Royal Charter from the Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara in Uganda.
The European-American University said it would contact Nigerian authorities to take legal action against the organisers of what it described as a fraudulent convocation.