The Nigerian government declared the suspension of the evaluation of degrees obtained from Kenya on Wednesday. Nigeria also suspended degrees from Benin, Togo , Uganda and Niger.
According to Nigeria’s ministry of education this measure has impacted over 45 universities in these nations.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman communicated this decision as part of an effort to overhaul the Nigerian education system. The move came after an investigative journalist exposed a case where a degree was obtained from a Benin Republic university in less than 60 days. The individual then used the credentials to secure placement in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Minister Mamman emphasized the intention to broaden the investigation to other countries, stating, “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo. We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, and even Niger, where such institutions have been set up.” The goal is to identify and eliminate certificates from dubious institutions.
Explaining the rationale behind extending the suspension, Mamman mentioned the need to weed out certificates from rogue institutions and outlined the investigative process. He stated that if an institution had been operating for a significant period, the authorities would scrutinize records to identify Nigerians who attended.
Regarding individuals with fake foreign certificates already within the system, Mamman asserted that they would be treated as criminals, with no timeframe for criminality. The Federal Government of Nigeria, he emphasized, would not show sympathy to those who received certificates from flagged institutions, considering them part of a criminal chain subject to arrest.
An investigation revealed that Nigerians were acquiring doctored academic papers from foreign countries to secure job opportunities in Nigeria. The government dispatched security officers to arrest individuals with fake certificates. The Nigerian Ministry of Education did not clarify whether all universities in Kenya, Uganda, and Niger were targeted or if the focus was on those lacking physical infrastructure.
As of now, the Kenyan government has not issued a response to Minister Mamman’s statement. Despite accusations against Kenya, Uganda, and Niger, the Nigerian government has not provided evidence of any institution from these countries unlawfully issuing degree certificates.
