FACT CHECK: Did ASUU President’s daughter just graduate from a University in the US? – Nexus News
Many Nigerian students remain stranded as a result of the ongoing crisis between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which forced the closure of public universities in the country since February 14.
Meanwhile, speculations emerged on Thursday that the daughter of the present President of the union, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke recently graduated from the University of Chicago in the United States of America (USA).
The controversies originated from a Facebook post published by one Ekiti Princess, who reported that Julianah Chedera Victor Osodeke, allegedly a 21-year-old daughter of the ASUU President, recently obtained a degree from a foreign university.
Her post read: “FELICITATIONS: On behalf of my two daughters, who are part of the 5Million Nigeria University Students, let me congratulate Miss (21) Julianah Chidera Osodeke, the beautiful daughter of Comrade Dr Emmanuel Osodeke, who recently graduated from The University of Chicago, Illinois US. We want to thank God and appreciate your daddy for his efforts at sending you to the United State for speedy completion of your course of study.
“We equally use this opportunity to thank your Dad for his efforts and ruggedness on the ongoing ASUU National strike especially for keeping us at home with our parents for the last seven months for obvious reasons (salary increase). We appreciate you, sir. May the Lord reward you accordingly”.
The post which was published at 8:16 pm Nigerian time has already been shared over 230 times and attracted several comments and impressions. Many social media users criticized Prof Osodeke for closing down public universities and plunging many students into a state of uncertainty about their future, while his daughter enjoyed uninterrupted education.
Read Also: FACT CHECK: Did Tinubu Leave Over $1bn Foreign Debt Burden As Lagos State Governor?
HOW TRUE IS THIS REPORT?
Information gathered revealed that the photos used for the picture collage that accompanied the post were obtained from different sites.
The first single photo of the graduating student, alleged to be Juilanah, is that of another Nigerian, Anita Osariemen Omonuwa, from Edo-state, who became the first black woman to graduate from the University of Reading in the UK with a first-class degree.
The photo corresponds with another photo on myschoolgist.com where the story about Anita was published in 2014. She also received two other first-class degrees from the University of Birmingham, UK (LLM), and the Nigerian Law School (BL).
Another photo in the collage, to the bottom left, was also seen on the Obama Foundation Scholars website and further investigation revealed that the 536th Convocation of the University of Chicago during which degrees were officially awarded to all graduates, was held about three months ago on June 4.
In addition, about two sources close to the Osodeke family have confirmed to Newsmen that the ASUU President has only male children.
VERDICT
Checks from investigations carried out revealed that the claim that Prof Emmanuel Osodeke’s daughter recently graduated from a US university is UNTRUE and should, therefore, be discarded by the public.
