The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has found itself in the midst of a major scandal following the suspension of a senior lecturer, Joseph Akpan, for alleged misconduct. Akpan, who served as the Head of Department (HOD) of Pharmacology, was accused of tampering with the results of over 200 students in one of the department’s major courses.
In a statement released on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Florence Obi, confirmed the suspension. She revealed that Akpan had allegedly altered the results of 235 out of 242 examination scripts. These results were for the course *Introduction to General Antimicrobial Pharmacology (PHM 311)*.
This revelation has sent shockwaves through the academic community, as the scale of the alleged tampering is almost unprecedented. Only seven scripts, according to the Vice Chancellor, were left unaltered.
The Vice Chancellor did not mince words when describing the university’s reaction to the misconduct. “The lecturer also gave marks to two students who did not even participate in the examinations,” she disclosed, visibly disturbed by the gravity of the situation.
The scandal has not only tarnished the reputation of the Department of Pharmacology but also raised questions about the integrity of the academic process within the university.
Professor Obi explained that Akpan had appeared before the Senate Examination Misconduct Committee (SEMC), where he allegedly admitted to the charges. In his defense, Akpan reportedly stated that he altered the results to protect the image of the department. However, the Vice Chancellor strongly condemned this explanation, calling it “ridiculous and unacceptable.”
UNICAL, like many Nigerian universities, has long struggled with issues of academic malpractice. This incident brings to light the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and transparent academic processes in Nigerian higher institutions.
Cases of result manipulation are not new in the country, with many universities grappling with ways to safeguard the integrity of their examination systems. In the past, incidents of bribery, leaked exam questions, and falsification of academic records have stained the reputations of both public and private institutions. However, the scale of Akpan’s alleged actions has raised fresh concerns about how these practices are being carried out by individuals in positions of power.
In response to the scandal, UNICAL management acted quickly. Akpan has been relieved of his duties as the HOD of Pharmacology and as the Coordinator for the PHM 311 course. The university has also taken the additional step of suspending him from duty, effective from October 8, 2024.
According to Professor Obi, all of Akpan’s official responsibilities have been reassigned to other qualified lecturers within the department. Akpan has also been directed to stay away from the university campus unless he is responding to an invitation from a relevant committee.
This swift action by the university management has been praised by some members of the academic community who see it as a strong stance against academic fraud. However, others have raised concerns about whether the measures taken will be enough to deter similar misconduct in the future.
