The Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) Alumni Association has condemned what it described as widespread mockery and disparagement of newly graduated PhD holders from the institution, warning members to desist from actions capable of undermining the university’s reputation.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, the association’s leadership under its president, Barr. Nuhu J. Egya, expressed “grave concern” over reactions trailing the record number of doctoral graduates produced at the university’s 8th Combined Convocation and 25th Anniversary.
The statement comes on the heels of the disparaging chorus of “Temu PhD” that erupted during the ceremony where the erudite Kenyan scholar, Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, was the convocation guest lecturer.
The association said the achievement of 25 – year – old university should ordinarily be celebrated as a milestone, noting that the production of such a high number of PhD graduates within just over two decades underscores NSUK’s growing stature as a hub for postgraduate excellence.
It further claimed that no state university in Northern Nigeria currently matches the institution’s record in doctoral output.
However, the alumni body lamented that some graduates of the university were at the forefront of what it described as a campaign of “derision and thinly veiled mockery,” accusing them of amplifying narratives that undermine their alma mater.
“Regrettably, it is our very own graduates who have chosen to become willing foot soldiers in this campaign of calumny,” the statement read. “This is not criticism; it is academic self-immolation.”
The association cautioned members engaging in such conduct, particularly on social media, to desist immediately, stressing that earning a PhD requires years of rigorous academic work, sacrifice, and commitment.
“If you believe earning a PhD in a rigorously competitive academic environment like NSUK is a stroll in the park, we challenge you: enroll, defend a thesis, and then speak,” it added.
Invoking a proverb to drive home its message, the group warned against internal sabotage, stating: “He who joins outsiders to say his mother is a bad cook will eat his meals alone.”
The alumni body maintained that it would not stand by while “a few disgruntled voices” attempt to discredit the institution’s achievements, reiterating its support for all NSUK PhD graduates.
It urged members to act as ambassadors of the university rather than critics, emphasizing the need to protect the institution’s image and legacy.
“Let us protect the house that gave us a name, for when the foundation is ridiculed, the entire structure trembles,” the statement concluded.
