FG Vows Crackdown on Fake University Certificates Nationwide, Expands Dragnet

 

The Federal Government has reiterated its determination to root out individuals wielding fake university certificates across Nigeria.

Education Minister, Tahir Mamman reaffirmed this stance during the inaugural quarterly citizens and stakeholders’ engagement held in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mamman articulated a transformative vision for the education sector, unveiling a comprehensive 13-pillar roadmap.

Emphasising the need for a robust database to facilitate effective planning, particularly at the foundational level, Mamman underscored the imperative of fostering skills acquisition and reducing the alarming rate of out-of-school children.

This renewed commitment echoes Mamman’s earlier pronouncements in January, where he asserted that security agencies would intensify efforts to apprehend individuals brandishing counterfeit certificates obtained from foreign institutions.

Mamman categorically labeled such individuals as criminals, dismissing any notion of victimhood. “I have no sympathy for such people. Instead, they are part of the criminal chain that should be arrested,” the minister remarked.

Continuing, the government signaled its intent to broaden its scrutiny beyond Benin and Togo, with plans to extend investigations to countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Niger.

Mamman stressed the need for a comprehensive approach, targeting institutions in these nations suspected of facilitating the issuance of fraudulent credentials.

The urgency of this crackdown was underscored by revelations from an undercover journalist, who detailed the ease with which he acquired a degree from a university in Benin Republic within two months, subsequently deploying for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

In response, the Federal Government swiftly suspended the accreditation of certificates from both Benin and Togo, initiating a thorough probe expected to conclude within three months.