Final year student expels over viral video alleging lecturer wrote project for N150,000

Onyewuenyi Chiamaka Nora, a final-year student, of Senate of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been expelled over a viral social media video where her she allegedly claimed that a lecturer was handling her final-year research project for N150,000.

After a brief Senate meeting held on Wednesday at the Postgraduate Hall, where members considered the content of the video and the student’s claims.

According to a statement issued by the university’ Public Relations Officer, Dr Ngozi Okiridu, said the Senate found aspects of the student’s account unacceptable, particularly her description of her project topic as “Citizenship” and her allegation that her supervisor was writing the project for her.

The university maintained that there was no project topic titled “Citizenship” in the Department of English Language and Literary Studies.

Onyewuenyi, who was a student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, reportedly came under scrutiny after an interview with a content creator went viral on social media.

However, the university disputed the claims, stating that there was no project topic titled “Citizenship” in the department. It also rejected the allegation that her supervisor had written the project on her behalf.

The management said it had attempted to persuade her to withdraw the comments but that she declined.

Explaining the decision, the institution said the expulsion was intended to serve as a deterrent to other students who might engage in similar conduct.

The development has drawn attention to the consequences of viral social media content and the responsibility of students when making public claims about their institutions.

The university maintained that it would not tolerate actions it considers damaging to its reputation.