Arabambi made this allegation while speaking in an interview on AIT on Thursday.

The factional Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary’s comment comes after Obi’s press conference on the controversy over Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate.

The factional LP’s spokesperson said he was among the people who screened Obi before the party’s presidential primary.

According to Arabambi, the name on Obi’s academic certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) contradicts the name on his National Youth Service Corps certificate.

Arabambi said, “I was part of the people who did the screening for him. In the form EC9 we gave him, he wrote that he attended the University of Nigeria Nsukka and that he finished his youth service but unfortunately, in the final submission of the form, he only submitted his school certificate.

“So something is fishy, and I want to say the name the school sent for mobilization was not what was written on his NYSC certificate, and he knows that.

“For us, we don’t know the true identity of Peter Obi even in the Labour Party because everything was shrouded in secrecy at that time between him and Abure in Asaba.

“You know we were rushing because we had just a day to do our presidential primary, and that was why he was able to get away with it, but we have it on record that Obi’s name on his NYSC certificate and the one on his University of Nigeria, Nsukka certificate are different,” he said.

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The lecturer, Nicholas Asogwa, teaches at the Department of Philosophy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Enugu State, South-east Nigeria.

Asogwa was elevated to the rank of a professor of ethics at the university on Tuesday.

The academic, in a long piece in celebration of his elevation, said he had pushed a barrow and worked as a shoe repairer in his efforts to become successful in life.

The piece titled “My journey to professorship” was read by the lecturer at an event to mark the elevation on Tuesday.

A text of the piece was posted on Facebook by a media expert, Chido Nwakanma, on Wednesday.

“I recall with tears my days as a barrow pusher at the popular Orie Orba Market in Udenu LGA of Enugu State, and then my days as a shoe-mender in one of the female hostels (Bello Hall) in the same university where I have become a professor,” Asogwa said.

How the journey began

The university lecturer said he was born into a family faced with “abject poverty,” which posed a serious threat to his educational opportunities. His dreams seemed “unattainable,” he had thought.

He, however, said the value of education and the belief in hard work and perseverance instilled in him by his parents helped him to overcome his hurdles.

Asogwa recalled that, as a shoe-mender in the university several years ago, he had a conversation with a woman, Nkechi Ohanuka, who used to be one of his regular customers at that time.

Mrs Ohanuka, a lawyer from Imo State, realised, during the conversation, that he (Asogwa) attended school up to secondary level and asked why he did not want to further his education.

Asogwa responded that he desired higher education, but that because of his poor background, he needed to make some money to fund his education.

The conversation, he said, happened at a time when the form for an entrance examination into university was still on sale.

The examination is organised by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

He said in the evening of the same day, Mrs Ohanuka visited him at his shop and handed him a wrapped paper.

“I have discussed with my husband, go and purchase JAMB form,” the woman told him. When she left, I unwrapped the paper, and lo and behold, it contained N620, the exact amount JAMB form was sold then,” Mr Asogwa stated.

But because mobile phones were not in vogue at that time, he would lose communication with Mrs Ohanuka, who was in her final year at the time.

Despite making efforts, the lecturer could not reconnect with Mrs Ohanuka until late 2013, about two months to his Ph.D. oral defence.

His reconnection to the lawyer followed painstaking search on Google and Facebook, he said.

Proscovia Ndoboli from Uganda also used to be a customer to Asogwa during his time as a shoe-mender in UNN.

The lecturer recalled that Ms Ndoboli, then a student of religion, was shocked when he informed her that he was quitting the shoe- mending work to study in the university.

The Ugandan citizen was shocked because she did not know that Mr Asogwa had attended secondary school that would qualify him to be admitted into the university.

“After congratulating me, she told me that she would like to come and know my place and see my parents. In addition, she told me that she would pay for my initial school fees. She fulfilled her promise and left Nigeria the next year, following her graduation,” he recalled.

“That was how I started. Nkechi bought JAMB form for me, while Proscovia paid my first school fees and put me in the hostel. From there, my parents and I took over, and the struggle continued.”

Investing in people

The professor, apparently inspired by his life experience, said investing in people is better than “material things”.

“Look at me: ever since I got employment as a lecturer, there has been no day that I entered the bathroom to bathe and prepare for work without remembering Nkechi Ohanuka.

“Look at what the seed she sowed in me some years back has grown into. I, myself, have leveraged on that seed to sow seed in others, and it will continue like that.

“What I am today and the more that I will become tomorrow are in one way or another the results of that seemingly small investment she made in me. Whoever sees Nkechi Ohanuka and Proscovia Ndoboli should thank them profusely for me,” he said.

“I have no doubt that becoming a professor is an important achievement, but I am also convinced that what one does with one’s professorship is much more important than one becoming a professor.

“I stand here today aware that my promotion carries with it a tremendous responsibility. It is not simply an acknowledgment of my accomplishments, but a call to serve, inspire, and empower young minds. I pledge to use this position to uplift others, to create opportunities for those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and to inspire belief in their own capabilities.”

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Obi, an alumnus of the university of the class of 1984, inaugurated the capital campaign at the 60th Founders’ Day celebration of the premier university where he featured as the guest lecturer.

The former governor had frowned at the pace of development in the university, stating that alumni of the institution had done very little or nothing to help their Alma Meter.

He said that the fund raising campaign would run for a period of five years with a target mobilisation of one billion naira annually from alumni of the university effective from 2021.

“If about 10,000 alumni of the university can come together and make annual contribution of N100,000.00 each, we should be able to raise one billion yearly to help our Alma Meter,” the former governor said

Obi, who promised to pay two percent of annual fund mobilisation, said that he would make funds available to the management of the university to furnish office apartment from where the fund drive would be coordinated and judiciously utilised. I will be fully involved and will personally supervise activities of the office,” he promised.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Charles Igwe, had lamented the deplorable state of infrastructure in the university, stating that at 60, existing infrastructure had aged and deteriorated and therefore required urgent facelift

Igwe noted that the University of Nigeria was the only first generation university in the country without a Senate building.

The Senate of the University, according to him “still meets at a make-shift venue furnished with plastic seats” and the space is no longer adequate for the growing number of professors in the university.

The Vice-Chancellor also bemoaned the overwhelming problem of power supply. He said that the monthly energy bill of the university, “which stands at over N70, 000,000.00 always leaves a hole in the pocket of the university.

“Being able to generate our own electricity, like some of our peers, would be a huge relief to the university.”

Igwe said that the capital campaign spearheaded by Mr Peter Obi was necessary to save the soul of the university. He explained that Obi was selected to drive the campaign because of his passion for improved funding for education and his track record of prudent management of public funds.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed confidence on the ability of Obi to mobilise other alumni of the university to come to the aid of their Alma Meter, promising that every kobo donated would properly accounted for.

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Obi who made this remark at the 60th Founder’s Day Lecture of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said China had gone through different stages of national development to arrive at their present level. It would therefore pay Nigeria better to copy China’s economic development template rather than running to them for loans.

Obi argued that China that could only boast of a GDP per capita of $960 in year 2000, had grown to a GDP per capita of $10275 in 2019, with a High Human Development Index of 0.798 in 2019 as against 0.594 in year 2000. He said the huge economic development seen in China is as a result of huge investment in MSME sector which drastically reduced unemployment and increased government revenue.

In his words, “MSMEs in China which constitute about 95% of Chinese firms, account for 60% of China’s GDP and contributes more than 65% of the import and export business in China. They also contributed about 50% of the overall tax revenue of government MSMEs constitute about 95% of all enterprises in China. China’s GDP is today about $14 trillion, which means that 60% translates to about $8.4 trillion – about 21 times the GDP of Nigeria.

MSMEs account for over 60% of industrial output and provide over 60% of the overall employment and 80% of urban employment in China. Talking about the growth of the MSMEs, 10 years down the line, 60% of these MSMEs have shown to become large corporate when compared with Nigeria that 96% are still at the Micro stage.

“China has about 840 million people employed (which is 60% of the population), and MSMEs provide 60% of these, which is 500 million people. In urban employment, the contribution of MSMEs is even greater; 80% of urban employment is attributed to MSME; of about 500 million people employed in urban areas, MSMEs employ 400 million.

“China had planned to create 50 million jobs from 2015-2020, which is 10 million annually, and is religiously following the plan year-on-year. In fact, China has consistently surpassed its annual target. China has an unemployment rate of only 3.7%.”

Obi stated that if Nigeria emulated China’s economic development plan, it would pay the country better than taking loans which risk being mismanaged.

The event was attended by notable Nigerians, including the principal members of the university. Obi was accompanied by Prof. Stella Okunna, Engr. Patrick Obi, Mr. Ndubuisi Menakaya, and Mr. Paulinus Aniagbaso, among others.

•PHOTO: R – L; The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Prof. Mike Olurefemi; the VC, Prof. Arinzechukwu Igwe; Mr. Peter Obi; and the DVC, Prof Pat. Okpoko after the 60th Founder’s Lecture of UNN delivered by Mr. Peter Obi . . . on Wednesday

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The conference, organised by Prof. B.I.C Ijomah Centre for Policy Studies and Research, UNN, met stiff opposition and criticisms, but organisers rebuffed the calls to cancel the conference, and instead changed the initial theme: “Witchcraft, meanings, factors and practices,” to ”Dimensions of human behaviours.”

UNN management had directed the organisers to drop the initial theme of the conference on account of outcries from various Christian bodies.

However, speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference holding at Nsukka main campus of UNN, the Director of the centre, Prof. Egodi Uchendu, regretted how ordinary academic conference was twisted to cause confusion by social media and other media platforms.

“The casualty of this confusion went beyond being asked by UNN management to change title but also the withdrawal of our keynote speaker, Prof. David Ker.

“I am delighted that social media hyper on the conference didn’t deter participants and organisers from attending the conference, which is completely academic,” she said.

Prof. Damian Opata, in his paper titled “The wealthy are no witches: Towards an Epistemology and Ideology of Witchcraft among the Igbo of Nigeria,” explained that the way witchcraft was propagated and believed by some Nigerians had continued to kill the development of knowledge on the issue.

“Some people have killed the initiative for creative indigenous thinking because of mere belief in witchcraft.

“Pastors, prophets, seers in the foreign religions and charismatic priests of variegated persuasions very frequently use perceived attacks by witches and wizards to put fear in the minds and hearts of their various congregations.”

Continuing, he said, “The truth is, for those who believe that witches and wizards exist, it exists for them; and those who believe it does not exist, it doesn’t exist.

“What we are doing today is completely an academic conference; it’s unfortunate that some people tried on social media to give it different interpretations.”

Head of Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the UNN, Prof. Peter-Jazzy Eze, who spoke on what he titled, “Which witch? What Anthropology knows of the Adult Bugbear,” explained that witchcraft did not exist but only existed in the mind of the people who believed in it.

“Science and technology have overtaken the superstitious belief of witchcraft, which has no practical proof.”

Eze said it was time Africa dropped the belief in witchcraft and embraced robust knowledge in science and technology, “the application of which is very practical and verifiable.”

“If Africans can fully embrace science and technology, in the next 50 years, there will be nothing like superstitious belief in witchcraft, ” he said.

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Ebere Amaraizu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Enugu state, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, described it as “pathetic and unfortunate.

“The suicide of a UNN 400 level student of the Department of English and Literary Studies on Monday is pathetic and unfortunate. Police will investigate circumstances surrounding the suicide.”

An eyewitness account said that Akachi went to an uncompleted building on Sullivan Road, Nsukka, where he drank two bottles of “Sniper’, an insecticide, and slipped into coma.

He said that the deceased was discovered by some passersby, who reportedly saw him in a state of coma.

He said that the people, mainly students, raised alarm before he was rushed to UNN Federal Medical Centre.

It was further learnt that he was later moved to University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla Enugu, where he was confirmed dead by doctors on duty.

According to the eyewitness, Akachi posted a suicide note on his Facebook wall shortly before he committed suicide, as follows:

“Forgive me. In case you are the one who found the body, I am really sorry. It had to be someone you know.

“I have chosen Jo Nketaih’s poem as my suicide note: “They said you came looking for me. I don’t drown, I was the water, Where do atheists go when they die! Lol. Amen.”

Also, Akachi was said to have posted on his Facebook on May 12 that “My mental health has been on life support for a while now. Thanks to those who call. Text. Visit.

“Speak to me. May we always remember. May we never forget. You May have added a few hours, months or days to my time here. But you know life support is expensive right?
“Thank you for trying. Amen.”

A senior security personnel in UNN Security Department, who pleaded anonymity, also confirmed the incident, adding that the report was brought to them on Monday morning.

He said this was not the first time Akachi wanted to commit suicide, adding that on two occasions, he had drunk kerosene and petrol to kill himself but was rescued.

“But on Monday he drank Sniper and was rushed to UNN Medical Centre first, but was later moved to UNTH Enugu, where he was confirmed dead.

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Emefiele gave the charge on Thursday, while delivering the 47th Convocation Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, entitled: “A mindset for Succeeding in Today’s Nigeria”.

He noted that rising unemployment remained one of the greatest challenges facing the country, warning that failure to galvanise the youths could boomerang against the Nigerian society.

While stressing the need for young Nigerian graduates to change their mind-set on the labour market, Emefiele insisted that, in spite of the many complaints about the country, Nigeria remained a land of limitless opportunities.

He therefore charged the graduating students to strive to be job creators and entrepreneurs rather than being mere job-seekers.

Emefiele, who is also an alumnus of the University, said the CBN, as part of its effort to address the challenge of unemployment on the one hand and the promotion of entrepreneurship among the youth, had designed and formulated policies and programmes aimed at direct real sector intervention.

He therefore encouraged the graduating students and other Nigerian youth with not more than five years post-service experience to take advantage of the CBN Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YEDP), which the Bank runs in collaboration with banks and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Citing examples of successful entrepreneurs and businesses in Nigeria and abroad, Emefiele further challenged the graduating students to take cognizance of the opportunities in their respective environments, motivate themselves, create innovative ideas and turn their ideas into profitable ventures.

Speaking on current economic developments and policies of the Bank, the CBN Governor recalled that several global shocks that affected the Nigerian economy were amplified due to the country’s over-reliance on the oil sector for its foreign exchange revenue and for government finances.

He however disclosed that the Bank embarked on some proactive policy measures such as policy tightening, restriction of forex for imports of 41 non-essential commodities, exchange rate management and development financing in key sectors in order to keep the economy sound.

Citing indicators such as the decline in inflation, improvement in forex supply, accretion to the foreign reserves, improvement in the World Bank’s “doing business indicators,” and the significant boost in local production, Emefiele said that the Nigerian economy had turned the corner and the worst days were behind.

Earlier, in is his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Chukwuma Ozumba said the convocation lecture was one of the prestigious of the public lectures hosted by the University hence the privilege of delivering the convocation lecture was usually reserved for men and women whose achievements will motivate and inspire graduating students and the entire university community to greater achievements.

The UNN Vice Chancellor listed some of the projects being embarked on by the University and solicited funding support to accomplish what the University had earmarked for itself. He said the initiatives would not only increase entrepreneurship and innovation, but would also help curb youth restiveness in the country.

Highpoint of the convocation lecture, which was graced by the Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was the presentation of plaques and the Lion laptops manufactured by the University to Emefiele as well as a former Governor of the CBN, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who was the Chairman of the event.

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The Co-ordinator of the planned occasion, Prof. Val Ekechukwu, told journalists on Sunday in Enugu that it was being organised under the auspices of the Senior Staff Club of the institution.

He the occasion scheduled for July 19, would offer the academic community the opportunity to interact with the Turaki Adamawa (Atiku) on the nature of the restructuring he had been campaigning for.

Ekechukwu, a Professor of Mechanical Engineering said that the lecture, to be chaired by the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, would attract the who-is-who in the politics of the country, especially South-East geo-political zone of the country to Nsukka.

He also said that the club would also induct Atiku Abubakar as a life member of the club as well as give him a good governance award.

Speaking further on the lecture, the President of the club, Prof. Anselm Onyimonyi, pledged to ensure a well packaged and exciting event.

Among those who have confirmed their presence at the lecture are; Chief Ben Obi, Chief Dubem Onyia, Dr Yinka Odumakin, Chief Arthur Eze among others.

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