The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its intention to extend the suspension of accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates beyond Benin Republic and Togo, targeting countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Niger Republic. Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, revealed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program.
The move comes in response to the suspension of accreditation for certificates obtained from universities in Benin Republic and Togo after an undercover journalist exposed the ease of acquiring a degree within a short period. The journalist also revealed deploying the acquired degree for the National Youth Service Corps.
Minister Mamman emphasized the government’s commitment to investigating such cases, stating that the probe’s report is expected within three months. He expressed no sympathy for individuals obtaining degrees through illegitimate means, categorizing them as part of a criminal chain subject to arrest.
The minister highlighted that security agencies would pursue individuals with fake foreign certificates using them to secure opportunities in Nigeria. This signals a concerted effort to address the broader issue of fraudulent educational credentials affecting the integrity of the country’s workforce.
Regarding the long-anticipated student loan program, Minister Mamman assured that President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to its operation from this quarter is being actively pursued by the committee working on its implementation.
