In a twist to the narrative being circulated by the Provost of the Federal College of Agricultural Produce Technology (FCAPT), Kano, Dr. Muhammad Yusha’u Gwaram, several academic staff have come forward to challenge his recent claims of increasing the number of PhD holders in the institution from 3 to 13 within five years.
The claim, published in multiple media outlets, has been described by several sources within the institution as “a desperate attempt to score cheap popularity” and “a clear distortion of facts aimed at bolstering his failed bid for tenure extension.”
Interviews with several PhD holders at FCAPT, who requested anonymity for fear of retaliation, present a different picture. Contrary to Dr. Gwaram’s assertion, the College currently has only nine PhD holders, not thirteen as he claimed. Of these, three—including Dr. Gwaram himself—already held doctoral degrees before his appointment in 2020.
Among the remaining six, four were already enrolled in PhD programs before he took office, with no institutional support from the College. “To be very clear, no single lecturer has received financial support, not even for tuition, from the College under Dr. Gwaram’s leadership,” said one of the sources. One lecturer who gained admission for a PhD program in India had to abandon his study due to lack of support, despite using his limited salary to finance travel and academic expenses. “If Gwaram ever supported only one PhD student, we challenge him to publish the evidence. We are enlightened and educated. Nobody can take us for a ride,” said one of the aggrieved PhD holders.
More troubling are allegations that Dr. Gwaram obstructed staff pursuing postgraduate studies. Three lecturers who secured fully funded PhD scholarships abroad reportedly had their study leave applications denied and their salaries suspended for nearly three years. These scholars—now based in the USA, Japan, and Thailand—were said to have had their salaries withheld even after the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) directed the Provost to pay them.
Regarding Research and Development (R\&D) support, staff described the situation as inadequate. The College reportedly provides ₦150,000 (approximately $100) annually per staff member, and only to a select few. The funds come from the Federal Government budget, not internally generated revenue, as Dr. Gwaram claimed. No PhD candidate has received this ₦150,000 support more than once. “How can ₦150,000 cover tuition, research logistics, transportation, and publication costs in today’s economy, let alone abroad?” one lecturer asked. “The claim that this is a meaningful support is not only misleading but also insulting to the intelligence of Nigerians.”
Sources within the College believe Dr. Gwaram’s recent media appearances are part of an effort to seek an extension of his tenure, which ends on August 20, 2025. “If Dr. Gwaram truly believes in the capacity of the PhD holders he is celebrating in the press, why not step aside and support one of them to succeed him as Provost? That would be a genuine legacy,” said another source.
Meanwhile, staff describe the current atmosphere at FCAPT as one of distrust and intimidation, with students adversely affected by internal conflicts.
One academic staff union leader said, “We call on Nigerians, especially stakeholders in agricultural education and research, to disregard the embellished narratives being circulated by Dr. Gwaram. FCAPT needs leadership based on fairness and transparency, not manipulation and suppression of merit.”
He added, “The true heroes of the College’s academic advancement are the resilient lecturers who struggled and triumphed against all odds on their own dime and determination.”
