The University of Abuja has uncovered more than 200 cases of fraudulent admissions and is warning parents to steer clear of paying for admission placements.
Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lar Manko, issued the caution during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, describing the practice as illegal and a gateway to exploitation.
She revealed that the fake admissions were linked to individuals who collected money from unsuspecting families, promising them university placements that were never approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) or reflected in official records.
“When I assumed office, I encountered a troubling case involving over 200 fake admissions. It was a tough challenge,” she said. “We set up a committee to investigate and address it, and we’ve taken corrective actions.”
Professor Manko emphasized that no payment is required to secure admission into the institution and urged parents to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
She encouraged prospective students to rely solely on official university and JAMB channels for processing admissions.
“Anyone who did not come through JAMB or the university’s official system is not a legitimate student,” she stressed. “If you’re unsure, come to our academic office or even my office directly.”
She added that affected individuals are being guided through a process to regularize their status, but warned that such fraudulent activities damage the institution’s credibility.
The briefing also highlighted the strides made under her leadership in the past six months, including the peaceful conduct of the university’s first digital Students’ Union Government (SUG) election, with over 5,000 students participating online.
“There were no handover notes when I came in. The university was in disarray—divided by petitions, staff disputes, and lack of direction.
We’ve worked to restore unity, order, and transparency,” she said.
Professor Manko also announced that over 12,000 students had benefited from empowerment programmes such as entrepreneurial training, driving school participation, and company registration support—all aimed at boosting graduate employability.