Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has strongly condemned Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, for its decision to confer an honorary degree on President Bola Tinubu’s son, Oluwaseyi Tinubu.
Sowore described the planned recognition as fraudulent and lacking merit.
Sowore, a vocal critic of corruption and political favoritism, questioned the university’s rationale for the award, suggesting that it was politically motivated rather than based on genuine achievements.
“The UNIZIK must have also prepared expulsion letters for student TikTokers because there will be plenty of stories from this fraudulent honor to Seyi Tinubu,” Sowore remarked, implying that students who criticize the decision might face repercussions.
He further challenged the university’s justification for the award, asking, “How is Seyi Tinubu qualified for a university honor? What does Seyi Tinubu do besides leveraging Tinubu’s corrupted connections?”
UNIZIK had announced that its 19th convocation ceremony, scheduled for March 25, would feature the conferment of honorary degrees on three individuals: Seyi Tinubu, Minister of Health Dr. Ali Pate, and industrialist Chief Chika Emenike.
Defending the selection, Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu stated, “The institution will confer honorary degrees on the Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Pate, Oluwaseyi Tinubu, and an industrialist, Chief Chika Emenike. These men have been selected because of their track record and the impact they have made in our university and society at large.”
The event will also include a convocation lecture delivered by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, with 8,157 students expected to graduate.
Despite the university’s explanation, Sowore insisted that honorary degrees should be awarded based on genuine contributions rather than political affiliations.
This development follows recent controversy at the Delta State College of Nursing Sciences, where a student, Osato Edobor, faced disciplinary action after posting a video about Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s visit to Delta State.
Edobor’s video captured students rejecting the First Lady as their “mother” during an event, leading the college to issue her a query.
The incident, which occurred on March 25 at the Dome Event Center in Asaba, was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative Health Programme, where 10,000 professional kits—Crocs and Scrubs—were distributed to midwives in the South-South zone.
In a letter signed by the college provost, Mrs. Evbodaghe Rita Ogonne, the institution claimed that Edobor’s act of “recording, singing, and posting the video in question” violated school regulations and constituted a “malicious act” against expected student conduct during official events.
Citing the Student Handbook, the provost warned that failure to respond to the query could result in disciplinary action.
