A gala stage, dignitaries in expensive suits, flash bulbs from cameras relentless, applause echoing in the hall. Dauda Kahutu Rarara, adoring fans cheering, is called forward to receive an honorary doctorate. The names, the titles, the recognition—it all feels official. It looks like recognition. It smells like honor.
Then comes the punchline: it was all fake.
It wasn’t European-American University’s convocation. The institution disavowed the degree. The folks who presented the award weren’t its representatives. Credit was claimed. Prestige was sold. And the audience? They were left with a show.
In Nigeria’s fame-obsessed landscape—where titles open doors, where “Dr.” on your name can shift respect, where influence is currency—this story is more than embarrassment. It is symptomatic. It peels back a layer to reveal a darker reality: what happens when the thirst for recognition, the hunger for status, collides with weak verification, shady organizers, and a populace eager to believe.
This isn’t just about Rarara or one musician. It’s about what we value as “achievement,” who gets to confer honor, and how easily trust can be borrowed… then stolen.
What the Federal Institution Said
No Honour Granted: European-American University (EAU) officially denied authorizing any convocation in Abuja at Nicon Luxury Hotel, stating the event and awards were fraudulent.
Fake Representatives: Individuals like Musari Audu Isyaku and Idris Aliyu claimed roles (Northern Nigeria rep / Governing Council member), but the university says they never had such authority. And the appointment of Aliyu to a Fellowship was revoked due to involvement in the fraudulent event.
Wrong Leadership Names: The fake event used names of past or dismissed VC (Josephine Egbuta) or false volunteer governing council, while the real VC is named in EAU’s statement as Prof. Luca Scotto di Tella de’ Douglas di Castel di Ripa.
Geographical Misrepresentations: The event reports claimed affiliations with locations like Dominica or Panama. The university clarified those claims are outdated or false; currently it’s registered in France with a Royal Charter from Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara in Uganda.
Legal Action Initiated: EAU says it has reported the incident to Nigerian authorities to investigate those behind the fake convocation.
Are We Worshipping the “Dr.” More Than the Deed?
In Lagos, Abuja, Kano — call someone “Doctor” and respect follows. Sometimes more than deserved. We’ve normalized prestige symbols—Ph.D., award plaques, honorary titles—as signs of success. What if, in our scramble for honor and visibility, we are fueling a culture that rewards appearance over authenticity?
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The Rarara scandal asks us: what is real prestige? What is genuine achievement? And if people begin to suspect that a title may be fake, how willing are we to believe the real ones? Because when counterfeit becomes common, it cheapens all.
