VERDICT: Misleading
CLAIM:
On Monday, January 4, 2021, fact-checkers at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) spotted a news story published by Daily Nigerian, Daily Trust, Today.ng, Nairaland, Gistmania claiming that Bayero University Kano has cancelled the 2019/2020 academic session.
The report also claimed that the university has announced a resumption for other academic activities within the institution for January 18, 2021.
According to the already viral report, the decision to cancel the academic session was taken by the University’s Senate on Monday, January 4, 2021.
FACT:
An investigation by the CDD revealed that the 2019/2020 academic session of Bayero University has not been cancelled by the institution.
CDD’s investigation shows that the university had announced the completion of the session which was disrupted by COVID19 pandemic.
The Director of Public Affairs for Bayero University Kano, Malam Ahmad Shehu, told our fact-checker that no session has been cancelled by the institution as widely claimed online.
Shehu said the Senate of the university, at a special meeting held on Monday, January 4, 2021 approved the completion of the 2019/2020 academic session prolonged by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said: “This follows a major adjustment made to the 2019/2020 calendar of academic activities. Under the adjusted calendar, undergraduates’ academic activities will commence from Monday 18th January 2021 and end on Monday 26th April. 2021. While, academic activities for the second semester are scheduled to start on Monday 3rd May 2021, and end on Thursday 16th September 2021”
According to Shehu, for postgraduate activities, the Senate approved that academic activities for the first semester will start from Monday, January 18, 2021, and end on Saturday, June 5, 2021.
“And the second semester will begin on Sunday 7th June 2021, and end on Monday 11th September 2021,” Shehu said.
CONCLUSION:
The report circulating that Bayero University Kano has cancelled the 2019/2020 academic session is misleading. The Public Affairs Director of the University, Malam Ahmad Shehu, confirmed to CDD that the institution had only announced an adjustment to the 2019/2020 session, not a cancellation.
CDD urges the media on accurate reporting and the public to always verify the authenticity of stories before sharing them.
You can forward suspicious messages for verification via +2349062910568 or contact us on Twitter @CDDWestAfrica
#StopFakeNews #StopDisinformation
Center for Democracy and Development West Africa| CDD West Africa
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