The Nigerian Federal Government has released the list of eight universities recognized for awarding degrees to Nigerian students in Togo and Benin Republic. This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, during a Sunday interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program.
The announcement follows a concerning revelation made by Mamman during a press conference held last Friday, marking his one year in office. The minister disclosed that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fake degree certificates from universities in these two countries. As a result, the government plans to cancel these fraudulent certificates.
This revelation stemmed from a detailed report presented to the Federal Executive Council, compiled by a committee tasked with investigating degree certificate racketeering in foreign and local universities.
Mamman added that the situation came to light after an undercover Nigerian journalist was able to obtain a degree from a university in Benin Republic in less than two months. This fake degree was then used to secure deployment into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The government has now recognized three universities in Togo and five in Benin Republic as legitimate institutions for Nigerian students.
1. Universite De Lome
2. Universite De Kara
3. Catholic University of West Africa
The minister also listed five accredited universities authorized to provide degree programs in Benin Republic of Benin for students from Nigeria.
1. Universite D’abomey-Calavi
2. Universite De Parakou
3. Universite Nationale Des Sciences, Technologis Ingenierie Et Mathematiques
4. Universite Nationale D’ Agriculture
5. Universite Africaine De Devlopment Cooperatif
In his statement, Mamman emphasized that the federal government will not reverse its decision to cancel the approximately 22,700 fake certificates. He pointed out that many of the individuals who obtained these fake qualifications did not even leave Nigeria, instead acquiring their certificates through fraudulent means with the help of collaborators at home and abroad.
Mamman urged both the public and private sectors to identify and take action against individuals holding such fake certificates, noting that the “fake universities” exploited the gullibility of Nigerians who sought their services.
“The federal government will ensure that these fraudulent practices are stopped, and that those involved face appropriate consequences,” he said.
