Tinuade Sanda's Educational Deception Revealed: How She Falsely Claimed Degrees From Harvard, Edinburgh, A Doctorate

Tinuade Sanda

TINUADE Sanda, the former managing director and CEO of Eko Electricity Distribution firm, EKEDC, has been in the headlines for contentious reasons in recent weeks, following her alleged dismissal by EKEDC and subsequent dismissal by West Power and Gas, WPG, the parent firm.

Sanda was appointed managing director of Eko Disco in March 2022, making her the first woman to run the distribution company and the third in the industry, following Funke Osibodu of Benin Disco and Folake Soetan of Ikeja Electric.

Sanda, who claims to have had international education, became the target of an internal probe at the corporation two years into her tenure.

On March 25, Dere Otubu, chairman of Eko Disco's board of directors, announced Sanda's recall in response to a directive from the Nigerian Electricity Distribution Commission (NERC). She was summoned to the parent business along with other WPG employees.

WPG, Eko Disco's parent company, declared that Sanda had also been fired, supporting the decision of the EKEDC board of directors.

Recent media reports have raised concerns regarding Sanda's heavily stated educational credentials and possible deception while at the organization.

According to her LinkedIn page, the controversial MD initially claimed to have a Bachelor's degree in applied science (BASc) from Harvard Business School and an MBA in Strategic Planning from the University of Edinburgh. She also claims to have received a PhD in finance management and entrepreneurship from the University of Management Science and Technology in Benin Republic. She claimed to have a PhD in December 2020 and so identified herself as Dr. Tinuade Sanda.

A quick check of the PhD's authenticity found that the institution's internet domain had expired, and the university had been taken offline. The university's only remaining internet presence is an Instagram account where it pitches itself to new students, particularly Nigerians.

The university offers a B.Sc in three years, compared to the customary four years in Nigeria, and, notably, does not require UTME results for enrollment.

Before the university's website was removed, it claimed 'Authorization No: 2014-049 MESRS/CAB/DC/SCM/DPP/DGES/DEPES/S A' in the Republic of Benin and'recognized by Ministry of Higher Education of Nigeria.'

Unfortunately, there is no record of the Nigerian Ministry of Education having approved such a university. In addition, ICON University is not included among the authorized universities on the NUC website.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Benin Republic maintains a list of all accredited universities, although ICON University is not included. The ministry also produced a list of accredited private universities in the country in December 2020, around the time Sanda graduated, however the university was missing.

There is no proof that ICON University is authorized in Nigeria or the Benin Republic.

According to the university's now-defunct website, the management team includes Maria D. Smith, Simon Duval, James Hogan, and Claudia Williams. Ironically, there's no digital footprint.

There is no proof that ICON University is authorized in Nigeria or the Benin Republic.

According to the university's now-defunct website, the management team includes Maria D. Smith, Simon Duval, James Hogan, and Claudia Williams. Ironically, none of these supposed academics have a digital trace or academic records to substantiate their status as the university's executive team.

Similarly, the registrar's office at Harvard Business School confirmed that Sanda did not receive a degree from the prestigious institution. However, HBS acknowledged that she took a three-day executive course nine years ago.

The business school noted that she underwent the three-day curriculum in Strategic Financial Analysis for Business Evaluation from March 29 to April 1, 2015, and received a Certificate of Attendance.

“Please note that HBS Executive Education only offers non-degree programs. Certificates of attendance are awarded to participants upon completion of the program and do not grant degrees or alumni status for the program mentioned above,” HBS said.

Sanda's LinkedIn page has been modified since her dismissal by Eko Disco, with some of the previously claimed educational qualifications removed.

For example, Harvard Business School has been renamed Harvard Business School Executive Education, while the University of Edinburgh has become Heriot-Watt University, as seen below.

Again, David McGregor, a digital communication officer at the University of Edinburgh, confirmed that Sanda did not attend the university as she had claimed on her LinkedIn page.

Sanda also claimed to be a certified member of the Institute of Management Consultants in the United States and an associate of the Institute of Professional Financial Managers in Britain. However, neither institute's published directories have a record of such membership.