There is outrage in Akwa Ibom State following allegations that three applicants were denied recruitment into the state civil service because their course of study was the Ibibio Language.
The candidates, all graduates of the University of Uyo, reportedly advanced through multiple stages of the recruitment process, including registering on the state government’s ARISE job portal and completing online examinations.
However, their journey allegedly came to an abrupt end during the final in-person interview.
According to accounts, the applicants were turned away by the interview panel, led by Mrs. Ekereobong Umoh, who allegedly described their Ibibio Language qualifications as inferior and irrelevant to public service roles.
The development has drawn strong criticism from the University of Uyo Alumni Association.
Public Relations Officer of the body, Thomas Thomas, who also serves as an aide to Governor Umo Eno, condemned the incident as discriminatory and contrary to the administration’s stated commitment to inclusivity and merit-based employment.
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Thomas described the alleged treatment of the candidates as humiliating, noting that they had fulfilled all requirements before being dismissed at the final stage.
One of the affected applicants reportedly said they were ridiculed, with their degrees described as “nonsense,” an experience they said felt like an attack on both their intelligence and cultural identity.
Another candidate claimed the panel dismissed the Ibibio Language as irrelevant to governance and ordered them out of the interview room, with other panel members allegedly joining in the mockery.
The applicants expressed deep frustration, questioning the fairness and transparency of the recruitment process.
They argued that in a state where Ibibio is widely spoken, their expertise should be seen as an asset rather than a liability.
Reacting further, the alumni association emphasized that graduates of indigenous language programmes possess valuable skills in communication, mediation, and community engagement, qualities essential for effective public administration.
Thomas warned that such incidents could undermine public confidence in the state government’s recruitment processes and contradict the goals of the ARISE Agenda, which promotes job creation and social inclusion.
He called on the state government to launch a thorough investigation into the matter and ensure that no qualified candidates are unfairly excluded in future exercises.
“This goes beyond the affected individuals,” he said. “It is about respect for education, culture, and the principle of merit.
“When degrees tied to our identity are dismissed, it sends a troubling message about what and who matters in our system.”
