In a 23 June telephone interview with the DIRB, an art history professor specializing in Nigerian art history at Indiana State University, in Terre Haute, explained that all applications to Nigerian universities, including to the University of Port Harcourt, are processed through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Students are required to sit a JAMB examination, which they must pass with a minimum of 200 points before they can be admitted to a university. Prior to sitting for the JAMB examination, however, students must have completed six years each of elementary and secondary school, and have passed the West African School Certificate of Education (WASEC) with at least a "C" in five subjects including English (ibid.). Students who meet these requirements must complete an application form on which they list three universities of their choice, in order of priority, based on the course of study desired and other considerations (ibid.). Once students have met JAMB requirements, their applications are sent to their chosen universities, which in turn inform them of the outcome of their applications (ibid.). This information was corroborated by a political science professor specializing in Nigerian military affairs, at the University of Northern Iowa, and by a representative of the Nigerian Universities Office in Washington, DC, during separate 24 June telephone interviews. Both sources also stated that students could also be admitted to the University of Port Harcourt by applying directly to the university. The representative of the Nigerian Universities Office explained that the procedure for admission to the universities through the JAMB applies only to state universities (ibid.).

The sources do not agree on who was the president of the University of Port Harcourt during the period 1993-1995. According to the official of the Nigerian Universities Office, the title of "president" is an honorary one and universities in Nigeria are headed not by presidents but vice-chancellors (ibid.). The political science professor stated that the president of the University of Port Harcourt is Ademola Salau, but The World of Learning 1997 lists only a vice-chancellor, not a president (1997, 1065).

According to The World of Learning 1997, the University of Port Harcourt has the following faculties: Humanities, Social Sciences, Science, Engineering and Education (ibid.). For information on the courses offered, please see the attached document. For additional information on the University of Port Harcourt, please consult Response to Information Request NGA15028 of 31 August 1993.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Art history professor specializing in Nigerian art history at Indiana State University, Terre Haute. 23 June 1997. Telephone interview.

Political science professor specializing in Nigerian military affairs at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. 24 June 1997. Telephone interview.

Nigerian Universities Office, Washington, DC. 24 June 1997. Telephone interview.

The World of Learning 1997. 1997. 47th ed. London: Europa Publications.

The World of Learning 1997. 1997. 47th ed. London: Europa Publications. p.1065.