Who is lying between this Nigerian Prof and Oxford University?
The Professor before coming to Nigeria in October was advertised to UNILORIN students as a Chair and Founder of Excellence in Education Programme, Oxford, UK; Consultant to Presidents, European and American Government, Monarchs and Corporate Leaders as well as Patriarch of Britain's Smartest family.
It is a bragging right for UNILORIN to have brought a Professor from Oxford University to deliver a lecture at its Convocation. The students were jubilant to listen to a Professor all the way from Oxford University to lecture them.
It was indeed a huge honour the students could not contain as the hall erupted when Prof Chris Imafidon walked into the Convocation Hall. UNILORIN almost exploded with screaming students.
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Of course, no student would see or read the Prof's profile without screaming, laughing and do everything that could be prompted by excitement. His Linkedin profile is too amazing and it is garnished with a long list of endless achievements in academic.
Check his profile and tell me why it is a sin to scream at the sight of such an academic figure.
Everyone was amazed at his confidence, endless applause punctuated his speech as his incredible aura shook the University.
However, the euphoria of receiving Prof Chris Imafidon has not petered out in UNILORIN when his profile began to attract stains. Stains that could destroy and exterminate his name and profile from the hearts of everyone that listened to his beautiful lecture.
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While in Nigeria, Prof Imafidon granted an interview with the Punch Newspaper. The interview endeared him more to many other Nigerians who read about how he overcame autism to achieve greatness; and about how he placed a bet with the former British Prime Minister, David Cameron when he turned around the fortunes of the worst performing schools in the UK.
He won the minister's $25m and used the money to build his first school in Birmingham.
A Punch in the face of the Prof
After the Interview, Punch Newspaper took a step further to confirm if Imafidon is truly a Professor at Oxford University.
The first reply to Punch's email to Oxford University disowns the Prof.
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“Thank you for your email. Our records show that Chris Imafidon has no affiliation with Oxford University or any of its colleges or departments. I hope this information is what you are after; please let us know if we can be of any further help.” The email reads.
In case the response to the mail was a mistake, Punch tried to confirm again from the school’s Media Relations Manager, Dr. Julia Paolitto and the second response is as succinct as the first.
“Thank you for your email. Our records show that Chris Imafidon has no affiliation with Oxford University or any of its colleges or departments. I hope this information is what you are after, please do let us know if we can be of any further help.”
At this point, a dark cloud was already gathering on the Professor's profile, ready to darken and blow away his academic claims.
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Punch in its report said it informed Imafidon about Oxford's denial but he insisted he is a Professor at Oxford-owned Keble College.
He showed his library ID as an evidence to tell that he has an affinity with the Ivy League school. But the University reps keep saying they do not know anybody called Professor Chris Imafidon.
Again, since Imafidon identified himself with Keble College, Punch reportedly sent another mail to the College and the response from the school's Communications Manager, Boriana Boneva, says, ''the only formal connection between Chris Imafidon and the college of which we are aware is that his daughter was a student here.”
All along, the Prof stood his ground that he is a Don at Oxford University, even when it was put to him that his name is not on the University website either as a lecturer or researcher.
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The back and forth between Oxford University and Punch Newspaper casts a cloud of doubt on Imafidon's pedigree as the man whose children are adjudged to be the smartest in the United Kingdom was caught in what is already looking like an academic fraud.
Oxford keeps denying, Imafidon keeps insisting and can't accept to be stripped of his honours, yet he has not come up with any other evidence to support his claims about his affiliations with Oxford University than his Library ID, which the University says it does not know how he got it.
Something is wrong somewhere and someone is obviously not telling the truth. Oxford and Imafidon should come out with more evidence and save us from this dark back and forth.
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