Nigerian author dismissed from University of Oxford

Nigerian writer Mr Nwelue has the status of Academic Visitor at the University of Oxford terminated, Cherwell’s investigation revealed.

The investigation revealed that he was fired for misusing the university’s logo and board for commercial purposes. Mr Nwelue also faced complaints of misogyny towards students and the spread of racist, classist and sexist content online, the independent student newspaper said.

The film’s producer and author held the status of Academic Visitor at the Oxford Center for African Studies from 2021 until his dismissal in early February this year.

During that time, Cherwell said, he represented himself as a professor at Oxford University and Cambridge University but was unable to provide proof of an academic PhD.

Both universities confirmed to Cherwell that he had never been awarded a professorship during his time with them.

On January 31, 2023, Mr. Nwelue’s Instagram bio described him as “Prof of African Studies & Academic Visitor at Oxford University & Cambridge University” and on February 1, 2023, his Twitter bio said “Professor + Academic Visitor”, tagging the account. from both universities.

He also tweeted: “I am a university professor, associated with two of the best universities in the world”, along with many other tweets where he referred to himself as a professor.

However, when asked to clarify his academic affiliation in this regard, Mr Nwelue told Cherwell, “I have never been a professor at Oxford and Cambridge. My card says I am an Academic Visitor and that is what I have told others. All I have to say is that I am a professor at Oxford there is no foundation.

At Oxford, Academic Visitorships are set according to terms agreed between the individual and the university. The university confirmed that it does not employ Academic Visitors – they are not paid, and are not expected to do any work for the university.

In addition, Mr. Nwelue also described himself as a Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, but SOAS confirmed to Cherwell that he was not listed as one of the Research Associates.

“I have the same Master’s degree as a film producer. I also have an Honorary Doctorate. I have been a Visiting/Research Fellow at other universities. Before Oxford, I made award-winning films and published many books,” he said when asked to give more details. complete with academic certification.

At least 22 books have been published under Mr. Nwelue’s name. Twenty of his books are self-published or published by companies. Nine of these have been published since 2021, and of the 17 listed on Amazon, 13 have no consumer reviews, the newspaper reported.

Tweet discrimination

During his tenure as a visiting academic at Oxford, Mr. Nwelue posted content on Twitter that he deemed racist, classist, and misogynistic.

This includes tweets where he states: “being raised in the chains of a poor family you are mentally stupid.”; “No poor person has value”; “African women look like masquerades when they wear wigs and makeup”; “Arabs are known to love slavery and servitude”; China is “poor, dirty (smelly!) and overpopulated”; “Eastern Europeans … only produce pickpockets and scammers”.

When asked about the tweet, he told Cherwell: “This is a social experiment to get feedback for a book I’m working on. I’m sorry if it’s wrong.” They refuse to be racist, misogynist, or classist.

The University of Oxford has not confirmed whether any background checks were carried out on Mr Nwelue before he obtained his status as an Academic Visitor.

What caused Mr. Nwelue to be fired

According to Cherwell, the launch of a new book where he (Mr Nwelue) hosted the controversial Nigerian journalist and author, David Hundeyin, who is associated with the James Currey Society, sparked the latest controversy.

The James Currey Society was founded by Mr. Nwelue and incorporated as a for-profit company in May 2022, under the name James Currey International.

It is named after the South African book publisher James Currey and has sponsored African writers to attend Oxford and Cambridge, through the James Currey Fellowship award.

While Mr. Nwelue told Cherwell that the society was established in partnership with the University of Oxford, the university clarified that fellowships in the society are not awarded, funded, or managed by the university.

Mr. Hundeyin is the holder of the 2023 James Currey Fellowship in Cambridge.

Cambridge told Cherwell Mr Nwelue and Mr Hundeyin are no longer affiliated with Cambridge University. Their relationship was terminated “following an investigation into their conduct”.

Open the book

On January 31, the duo held a joint book launch at the university premises for Mr. Hundeyin’s latest book, also published by Abibiman Publishers.

According to Cherwell, the book launch is being marketed through the James Currey Society and tickets are priced at £20 for Oxford students which according to one student who spoke to the paper is normally free. Mr Hundeyin’s book is also on sale for £20.

Attendees of the event told Cherwell that the misogynistic comments made by the organizers and other audience members made them feel “very uncomfortable”.

When asked about the event, Mr Nwelue told Cherwell, “I’m sorry if the students feel uncomfortable. About sexism and misogyny, I will not condone it. I’m sorry if that happened. I’m sorry.”

On February 20, he resigned as Director of the James Currey Society, announcing his replacement as Zimbabwean actor Charmaine Mujeri.

---

Also read: Oxford University introduces Igbo language course

---

He confirmed to Cherwell that he was resigning after stopping the Academic Visitor, “so that his personal relationship with the University of Oxford could end there”.

It is unclear whether the James Currey Fellowships at Oxford and Cambridge will continue or will be re-awarded in the future.

Mr Nwelue has also written a letter to Oxford Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracy, reviewed by Cherwell, in which she has unsuccessfully appealed for the Academic Visitor to be withdrawn.

On Thursday, he locked his Twitter account after tweeting: “I’m leaving social media this afternoon. It will be for a long time. I may as well delete all my accounts. Bless you all!”

An investigation into Mr Nwelue’s conduct during his time at Oxford University is ongoing, Cherwell said.

Mr. Hundeyin responded

David Hundeyin in a tweet said that the newspaper approached him and “I have told you that my Fellowship is not terminated, and I show you the letter above as proof.”

Instead, he ran the story citing an anonymous source, he said.

He said the society was founded in Oxford but had established links with Cambridge University.

“It is therefore natural to schedule a number of activities for @AfricaOxfordUni, one of which is a workshop and book launch event on January 31,” he said.

Mr. Hundeyin later blamed Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State for what he termed as a “discredited hack story filled with ad hominem and unsupported claims.”

“A few days before the event, the Center for African Studies suddenly developed cold feet about hosting the event. There was no explanation, but we heard unofficially that Nasir El-Rufai was not happy with my presence,” he said.

“The place had to be changed at the last minute, and at some cost,” said Mr Hundeyin, describing himself as the most internationally decorated investigative journalist of his generation in Nigeria.

“Apparently, Dr Nwelue uploaded a video of me during his introduction to the center on his Twitter handle, without obtaining permission from the two people who appeared in the video,” said Mr Hundeyin.

He was asked to stay till the end of my Fellowship, he added.

“The next trick was to ask the student newspaper using the address “@gmail.com” to write a hack story with rude words filled with ad hominem and unsupported claims, which described the launch of my book – for some reason – as a “fraud,” he added. .