Education
FG Upholds Decision to Void 22,700 Fake Degrees from Togo, Benin Republic
In a firm stance against academic fraud, the Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its decision to invalidate over 22,700 degree certificates obtained by Nigerians from what it described as “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and Benin Republic.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman, speaking while featuring on a Sunday Politics segment on Channels Television, monitored by Maga Icon Magazine, emphasised that Nigerians who earned degrees from these “illegal” institutions are tarnishing the country’s reputation.
He argued that the government’s action to nullify these certificates is justified, especially since authorities in the two Francophone West African nations have also classified the concerned institutions as fraudulent.
“The measure to invalidate these degrees is not harsh,” Mamman stated. “These institutions are not recognised even in their own countries, and we cannot allow Nigerians to continue parading certificates from such places.”
This move follows a series of revelations about the prevalence of degree certificate racketeering in the region.
Last year, an undercover journalist exposed how he managed to obtain a degree from a university in Benin Republic in less than two months, which he then used to enroll in Nigeria’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The expose prompted the Federal Government to suspend the accreditation of certificates from Togo and Benin Republic and initiate a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
In a press conference on Friday, marking his one year in office, Minister Mamman disclosed that more than 22,700 Nigerians were found to have obtained fake degree certificates from the two countries. The findings were part of a report submitted to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by a committee tasked with investigating degree certificate racketeering by both foreign and local universities.
During his appearance on Sunday, Mamman clarified that the Federal Government officially recognises only three institutions in Togo and five in Benin Republic, labeling all others as illegal.
He added that many Nigerians holding these dubious certificates never even traveled abroad, but instead acquired them through corrupt dealings involving government officials both at home and abroad.
“These fake universities prey on the gullibility of Nigerians, who seek easy and quick academic qualifications,” the minister said.
Mamman also revealed that the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation have been instructed to identify and remove any government employees holding such invalid certificates.
He called on the private sector to take similar action, ensuring that no one with a fake degree is employed in Nigeria.
The National Examination Council (NECO) has announced the results of the 2024 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) with a significant number of candidates securing credits in both English Language and Mathematics.
A total of 828,284 candidates, representing 60.55% of those who sat for the examination, achieved this milestone.
The results were officially disclosed on Thursday by NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
He revealed that 1,376,436 candidates participated in the examination, which took place over a span of more than a month, starting on June 19 and concluding on July 26, 2024.
The marking process, which commenced on August 19, was concluded by September 8, allowing for the release of results within 55 days after the final exam.
In addition to the English and Mathematics credits, Wushishi noted that a broader 83.9% of candidates (1,147,597) achieved five credits or more, irrespective of English and Mathematics, reflecting an impressive performance in other subjects.
Wushishi provided detailed statistics on the examination:
– Number of candidates registered: 1,376,423 (706,950 males and 669,473 females).
– Number of candidates who sat: 1,367,736 (702,112 males and 665,624 females).
– Candidates with five credits, including English and Mathematics: 828,284 (60.55%).
– Candidates with five credits, excluding English and Mathematics: 1,147,597 (83.9%).
On examination malpractice, the NECO boss reported a decline in cases. While 12,030 candidates were involved in malpractice in 2023, the number dropped to 8,407 this year.
However, 40 schools across 17 states were found to have engaged in mass cheating and will face disciplinary action.
Also, 21 supervisors have been recommended for blacklisting due to misconduct, including extortion and drunkenness.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced that underage candidates will no longer be allowed to sit for secondary school leaving examinations.
The minister made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme monitored by Mega Icon Magazine.
Mamman stated that the Federal Government has issued directives to both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to enforce an age limit of 18 years for candidates eligible to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), respectively.
He also emphasised that the age limit for candidates wishing to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remains firmly set at 18 years.
“It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB in July was to allow this year as a transition period and to serve as a notice for parents. This year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age, but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age, which is 18,” Mamman explained.
The minister clarified that this is not a new policy, but rather a re-emphasis on existing regulations.
“Even if you compute the number of years pupils and learners are supposed to be in school, the total comes to around 17 and a half years – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half years by the time they are ready for admission,” he said.
He further elaborated that WAEC and NECO will now enforce this age requirement strictly, ensuring that candidates who have not spent the requisite number of years in their educational levels will not be allowed to sit for the examinations.
Breaking down the educational timeline, the minister stated that early care is expected to last for the first five years. Pupils begin primary one at age six, spend six years in primary school, transition to junior secondary school at age 12, spend three years there, and finally move to senior secondary school at age 15, where they spend three more years before being eligible for university admission at age 18.
Students across tertiary institutions who have successfully applied for the Federal Government’s loan scheme will soon start receiving credit alerts, beginning next week, announced the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, monitored by Mega Icon Magazine, NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr disclosed, “The people who are going to first receive alerts as early as next week are the people who are about to start a new session in the institution they are in.”
Sawyerr clarified that other successful applicants will receive their credit alerts once the academic sessions commence in their respective institutions.
The Managing Director’s comments came shortly after the launch of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) by President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. Sawyerr reported that out of 170,000 applicants from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, 110,000 have completed the necessary processes.
He detailed that there are two categories of beneficiaries: institutions receiving payments on behalf of successful applicants and the students themselves, who will receive a monthly stipend.
“A formal launch of the disbursement circle played out at the State House on Wednesday,” Sawyerr confirmed.
Highlighting the program’s objectives, Sawyerr emphasized its role in nurturing future leadership and enhancing Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.
He further stated, “To be precise, about 110,000 students have successfully applied. They’ve put in their applications and verified as being bona fide and eligible applicants. But we’ll still carry out further verification to make sure they are well-qualified to receive these loans. But over 110,000 are likely to begin to receive disbursement from next week.”
Regarding eligibility requirements, Sawyerr outlined that applicants must possess Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) numbers, matric numbers, Bank Verification Numbers (BVN), and National Identification Numbers (NIN), among other criteria.
“The current exposure to students is about N35 billion. We’ve got much more than that sitting in our accounts that we can disburse, and we’ve also got some funding on the way. Remember, we are getting 1% of Federal Inland Revenue Service taxes and we also can receive funding from other sources,” Sawyerr concluded.
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