Immediate past acting vice chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), Prof. Lar Patricia Manko, has warned prospective students and their parents to beware of fraudsters promising admission in exchange for money.
Manko, who was represented by the director of the Academic Planning Unit, Prof. Wesley Daniel, gave the advice during a hybrid pre-admission sensitisation programme for 2025/2026 Post-UTME candidates in Abuja.
The event, held both physically and virtually, was designed to provide an interactive platform where prospective students could engage directly with the university leadership, ask questions about the admission process, and gain clarity on key procedures.
“What the university is doing is to enlighten prospective students on the proper steps for gaining admission into the institution and to answer their questions,” the vice chancellor said.
She stressed that Yakubu Gowon University operates a transparent, fair, and merit-based admission process, and urged candidates not to fall prey to scammers posing as admission agents.
“Our admission is very transparent and based on merit and excellence. We are educating prospective students and their parents so they don’t end up in the hands of fraudsters,” she warned.
She further assured the prospective students that no genuine applicant needs to pay anyone to secure admission into the university. “If you meet the requirements, you will get admission purely on merit,” she added.
She expressed hope that at the end of the sensitisation, candidates would clearly understand the Post-UTME process and other admission requirements of the institution.
On his part, director, Development Office in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Professor Olanrewaju Aladeitan, revealed that several students were victims of illegal admissions last year, possessing fake university admission letters and even making payments.
In response, he said the vice-chancellor, Professor Patricia Mangola, set up a committee to investigate, which found that misinformation and lack of awareness led many to fall prey to admission racketeers.
He said that to prevent future occurrences, the university has initiated a sensitisation programme to educate parents and prospective students about the proper admission procedures.
According to him, the university emphasises zero tolerance for admission racketeering and insists that all candidates follow the official process based on merit, catchment area, and academic discretion.
