By Kelvin Ololo
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has warned faculties and institutes against charging former students for the collection of degree certificates, following complaints of alleged extortion at the point of certificate collection.
The warning was contained in a memo dated October 4, 2026, issued by the Directorate of SERVICOM in the Vice Chancellor’s Office and signed by its Director, Prof. Bassey Oben.
Titled “On the Continuing Extortion of Our Students: Collection of Degree Certificates is Free,” the memo was addressed to all Deans and Directors of Institutes.
Prof. Oben said the SERVICOM office had been “inundated” with complaints that some Faculty Officers were allegedly forcing former students, including prospective National Youth Service Corps members, to pay what was described as a “certificate collection fee” before receiving their certificates.
According to the memo, the alleged charges ranged from N16,000 to N45,000 depending on the faculty or institute involved.
The SERVICOM Director questioned how such charges could continue without the knowledge of the heads of the affected faculties and institutes, describing the situation as unacceptable.
He stressed that collection of certificates at UNICAL is free, warning Deans and Directors that they would be held personally accountable for any contrary charges.
The memo further disclosed that SERVICOM would publish the various amounts allegedly being demanded by faculties and institutes under the guise of certificate collection, adding that those involved would be required to account for the collections.
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