Two former students of the University of Makeni (UniMak) have lost their academic certificates after an investigation revealed they submitted forged transcripts in a bid to win an international scholarship.
At a meeting held on July 6, the University Senate unanimously voted to annul the qualifications of Fatmata R. Sesay from the Human Resource Department and Abdul Karim S. Kanu from the Law Department. The action followed a complaint from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sierra Leone, which alleged that both individuals submitted forged UniMak records during a scholarship application process.
An investigation by the Senate’s Committee confirmed the falsification and uncovered other discrepancies pointing to deliberate misrepresentation. Both Sesay and Kanu admitted to the misconduct during the proceedings.
“This is a serious breach of academic integrity,” said UniMak Registrar Foday Augustine Bangura. “Such acts undermine the values of truth, accountability, and professionalism that the University stands for, and they threaten the trust we’ve built with national and international partners.”
The Senate’s decision included the formal withdrawal of Sesay’s degree issued in March 2022 and Kanu’s degree awarded in March 2021. The outcome has been communicated to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, the Tertiary Education Commission, the Chinese Embassy, and other relevant accrediting bodies.
The University reaffirmed its zero-tolerance approach to academic fraud, stressing that it remains committed to safeguarding the credibility of its qualifications and ensuring they continue to reflect merit and integrity.
