UNIMAID breaks silence on ‘World physics championship’

The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) says it is expecting Nuru Yakubu, one of its lecturers, to present relevant facts to the institution on the “world physics championship” award conferred on him.

On Friday, some Nigerians had taken to the social media to celebrate the news of Yakubu, a lecturer in the physics department of UNIMAID, becoming “Father of modern EINSTEIN’S PLANETARY EQUATION studies in Physics”.

His research article was said to have beaten 5721 nominations from 97 countries and he was declared the “pride and most important asset for Nigeria”.

However, this has generated controversy as the yardsticks used in giving out the award did not meet acceptable standard.

In a statement sent to TheCable on Tuesday, Danjuma Gambo,the university’s spokesperson, said the controversy generated by the award is capable of dragging the name of the institution into ridicule and disrepute.

“Ordinarily, such a development at the level of an individual member of staff would have been favourably received by the University Management, in view of the huge investment that it has been making in research and publication,” he said.

“However, instead of positively enhancing the reputation of Dr. Nura and our university, the reported award has now become a subject of controversy, capable of dragging the good name of our great institution into ridicule and disrepute.

“For the avoidance of doubt, neither Dr. Nura nor the organisation that reportedly gave him the said award, has officially contacted the University Management with credible information on the matter. However, the University will do the needful, whenever it receives official, verifiable information from impeccable sources, in order to put the matter into proper perspective.

“Therefore, the media and members of the general public are advised to react with utmost caution to the widespread reports and commentaries currently in circulation.

“Meanwhile, Dr. Nura is expected to approach the University with relevant facts available to him on the matter, for further action.”