Yakubu Nura, the University of Maiduguri lecturer said to have won a World Physics Competition Physics after defeating about 5720 contenders from 97 countries, has dispelled claims of the award being fraudulent.
Recall it was reported that Nura was crowned ‘the Father of Modern Einstein’s Planetary Equation Studies in Physics’ after the alleged big win, a claim that led to controversy. Commenting on the award, US-based Nigerian Professor Dr Farooq Kperogi pointed out that the award was given for a fee as the group behind it does not have its own website.
However after access to the purported website was granted, it was discovered that winners of its awards are usually placed in the exclusive lists of people said to have changed the world. Yakubu was placed in an exclusive list of “Six famous persons who changed the world”. He was number two on the list, including Albert Einstein, Michael Faraday, Hippocrates, Sir Isaac Newton, and Louis Pasteur.
Private organisations and government were also advised by the website to encourage students and young scientists by naming road, garden, statue, community hall, centre, programme after Yakubu. However when contacted, the UNIMAID lecturer said he will need the permission of his school’s management to grant any interview.
When asked if the award is fake he said “What’s fake? You can contact the university management because they had replied me with a letter congratulating me. So, these are the people that can authenticate.” On report of the University dissociating itself from the award, Yakubu said “No, No. I have a letter from them”.
Reacting to claim of Yakubu receiving a congratulatory letter from the university, UNIMAID’s spokesperson Mohammed Ahmed told Punch “Ask him who gave him the letter. If he says he has a letter from management, tell him to send it to you on WhatsApp.” It was learnt that the lecturer refused picking his call after that.
Meanwhile here is a letter from the University, dissociating itself from award;
