A viral claim that a “University of Paris” ranked the Kano State Government as the highest-spending government on education in West Africa has been found to be false, reviving memories of the 2020 controversy involving former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and a disputed appointment by East Carolina University.
Findings showed that there is no record of such a ranking on the official websites or publications of French higher institutions, including Sorbonne University, Université Paris Cité, or any institution formerly associated with the University of Paris system.
Further checks also found no academic publication, research, or official statement by any Paris-based university ranking Kano State or any Nigerian state based on government spending on education in West Africa.
Current university rankings published by French and international academic institutions focus on academic performance, research output and institutional reputation. While Bayero University, Kano, is listed among leading universities in the region, no ranking relates to state government expenditure.
Speaking on the claim, education expert Hassan Usman said universities do not produce comparative rankings of government spending.
“University rankings are generally based on academic performance, research output and institutional reputation, not on government expenditure,” he said.
Usman explained that assessments of public spending are usually carried out by international organisations such as UNESCO, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund through education, finance and governance reports.
He urged journalists and members of the public to verify information from credible sources before sharing it to curb the spread of misinformation.
A review of recent UNESCO publications, including the Global Education Monitoring Report and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics database, also found no ranking identifying Kano State or any Nigerian state as the highest spender on education in West Africa.
The development has drawn comparisons with the 2020 East Carolina University controversy involving Ganduje.
At the time, reports claimed the former governor had been appointed a visiting professor by the US-based institution. However, the university later distanced itself from the appointment, saying the letter conveying the offer was issued without the authorisation of its leadership.
In a letter signed by its Interim Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, B. Grant Hayes, the university said only designated officials had the authority to issue faculty appointments and that the staff member who issued the letter lacked such authority.
The latest false claim has again highlighted the need for public officials, journalists and social media users to verify claims of international recognition before presenting them as facts.
