Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU) appears to have removed all references to its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, from its official website following a PREMIUM TIMES investigation that questioned his claim to be a professor….
Michael and Cecilia Ibru University (MCIU) appears to have removed all references to its Pro-Chancellor, Anthony Kila, from its official website following a PREMIUM TIMES investigation that questioned his claim to be a professor.
A review of the university’s website at about 7am on Tuesday showed that Kila’s name, profile and photographs had been removed from the institution’s leadership page.
Until recently, Kila’s details were prominently displayed alongside those of the university’s proprietress, Cecilia Ibru, a former banker and chief executive of the defunct Oceanic Bank, and the Vice-Chancellor, Ibiyinka Fuwape, a professor.
Kila has served as the university’s Pro-Chancellor since August 2025.
His removal from the website comes after PREMIUM TIMES reported that its investigation found no evidence that Kila had been awarded the academic rank of professor, despite his long-standing public use of the title.
The report also questioned his claim to be a “Jean Monnet Professor of Strategy and Development”, which he said was conferred on him in 2016 by the European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies (ECAPS), purportedly based in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
According to PREMIUM TIMES, searches of the UK Companies House, Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission and other online sources produced no evidence of the institution’s existence, including a verifiable website, address or alumni.
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency, which manages the European Union’s Jean Monnet Actions, also reportedly disowned Kila’s claimed affiliation.
Kila, however, rejected the report and maintained that he was a legitimate professor, describing the investigation as being based on “an incomplete understanding” of his professorship. He also threatened legal action.
MCIU has not publicly explained the removal of Kila’s profile or issued a statement addressing the findings of the investigation.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Fuwape told PREMIUM TIMES that the university would respond to the questions raised after its governing council had met.
“We will reply to you very soon. The PRO will get in touch with you. The council is yet to meet. I can’t give you any information other than that,” she was quoted as saying.
The university’s website has since been updated, with Kila’s name and photographs no longer appearing on the leadership page.
The development comes as questions remain unanswered about the basis of Kila’s professorial title and his claimed Jean Monnet affiliation.
