The Federal Ministry of Education, a branch of the Federal Government, declared on Tuesday that the accreditation of degree credentials from Togo and the Benin Republic has been suspended.
The Federal Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Augustina Obilor-Duru, signed a statement on Tuesday expressing the government’s regret that “some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.”
It came after a Daily Nigerian Newspaper investigative piece titled “How Daily Nigerian reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks.”
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The government claims that the suspension would remain in place until the conclusion of an investigation that includes the Department of State Security Services, the National Youth Service Corps, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria and the two nations.
The Federal Ministry of Education strongly condemns these actions, and as of January 2, 2024, it will no longer be evaluating or accrediting degree certificates from the Republics of Benin and Togo. This action is being taken while the investigation is ongoing and will involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both countries, the Ministries of Education in both countries, the Department of State Security Services, and the National Youth Service Corps.
Thus, in order to help the Committee develop long-lasting solutions to stop future incidents, the Ministry would like to appeal to the general public for support, understanding, and relevant information.
Additionally, the Ministry has started internal administrative procedures to assess whether or not its employees are at fault, for which the relevant Public Service Rules would be enforced.
All nations struggle with the problem of degree mills, which are organizations that just exist on paper or run covertly without being subject to regulatory oversight. FME has been dealing with the issue of illicit establishments that prey on gullible, innocent Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians who purposefully visit such establishments, whether they are overseas or at home. The Ministry and NUC have warned against using these kinds of institutions on a regular basis, and in certain cases, they have even reported cases to security agencies so that they may take action against the offenders.
The ministry will keep reviewing its plan to close any gaps in policies and practices and take firm action against any officials who are acting dishonestly.
According to The PUNCH, the NYSC declared in 2020 that it would start prosecuting Nigerian graduates who had forged diplomas, particularly those from West African nations.
Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, also mentioned in 2020 that some Nigerians were buying phony degrees from degree mills both inside and outside of Nigeria.
Newspaper reports in September 2023 revealed that a certain London Graduate School was offering phony honorary degrees to Nigerian students.