The video, which circulated widely on social media last week, showed the student discussing her research project. During the interview, she reportedly struggled to provide further details about the topic and said her supervisor was handling the work alongside projects belonging to other students.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 12, 2026, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Ngozi Okiridu, said the decision was taken at a Senate meeting held the previous Wednesday at the Postgraduate Hall.
According to the statement, the Senate reviewed the contents of the video and the student’s claims before deciding to expel her over what the institution described as “damaging content creation.”
The university identified the student as a member of the Department of English and Literary Studies, with matriculation number U/2022/19900.
“Senate has expelled Miss Onyewuenyi Chiamaka Nora with Matriculation Number U/2022/19900, a final-year student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, over damaging content creation,” the statement read.
The institution said it was particularly concerned by the student’s description of her research topic as “Citizenship” and her allegation that her supervisor was writing the project for her.
It maintained that there was no research topic titled “Citizenship” in the Department of English and Literary Studies.
“Recall that the said student had, in an interview that went viral, claimed that her project topic was ‘Citizenship’ when there is no such topic as Citizenship in the Department. She also claimed that her supervisor was the one who wrote the project for her,” the statement added.
The university said the Senate considered the student’s remarks unacceptable and maintained that the disciplinary action was intended to discourage other students from engaging in similar conduct.
The expulsion has drawn attention to academic integrity and the responsibilities of students undertaking final-year research projects. Such projects are generally intended to demonstrate students’ ability to identify research problems, review relevant literature, apply appropriate methods and present independent academic work under the guidance of supervisors.
The controversy also raises broader questions about the extent of students’ understanding of their research topics and the role of academic supervisors in ensuring that project work meets institutional standards.
However, the university’s statement focused on the content of the viral video and the Senate’s decision. It did not provide further details about the disciplinary process or indicate whether the student had been given an opportunity to respond formally to the allegations before the decision was announced.
The institution’s action is expected to generate further discussion about academic misconduct, social media conduct and the enforcement of university regulations.
The university has maintained that the expulsion should serve as a deterrent to other students.
