Rarara’s honorary doctorate is authentic, says varsity official

The Head of African Operations at High-grade Professional Education Centre Ltd, Dr. Josephine Egbuta, has debunked allegations that the honorary doctorate awarded to popular Hausa musician Dauda Kahutu (Rarara) is fake.

Speaking through her media consultant in Kaduna on Tuesday, Dr. Egbuta explained that the European-American University has maintained a formal partnership with High-grade Professional Education Centre Ltd since 2008.

She further noted that her late husband, Professor Williams Egbuta, was appointed as the university’s honorary coordinator for Africa, underscoring the institution’s legitimacy and long-standing academic recognition.

Egbuta said she was shocked to hear that Dr Luke Okojie of Accolades Communications, who was working with her late husband as a printer, now claims to be recognised by a foreign partner just last Sunday as a pro vice chancellor without prior notice.

“He was also a resource fellow. He printed the brochure of our 2016 convocation held in Togo.

“Suddenly, I saw his company name as Ziglar. Apart from printing, his primary assignment was the Accolade book published for important personalities,” she said.

She explained that as of 2016, Okojie worked as a professional printer for High-grade Professional Education Centre.

Egbuta said the research fellow who organised the honorary doctorate award in Abuja last weekend contacted her as usual with the names of those conferred, including Rarara, before proceeding.

She made available the certificates and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between High-grade Professional Education Centre Ltd and the European-American University, which she said, remains legally binding.

Therefore, she urged the public to disregard claims that the honorary awards were organised illegally, as no contrary correspondence from the university has been communicated to her organisation.

(Leadership)