The Federal Government has halted the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics following fake degree acquisition reports.
This action from the FG was prompted by an undercover report revealing how a journalist obtained a degree from a Benin Republic university within two months without applying, registering, studying, or taking exams. According to Daily Nigerian, despite not physically crossing borders, the journalist’s passport was stamped by Nigerian and Beninois immigration agents, allowing participation in the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
In response, Augustina Obilor-Duru, the Ministry of Education spokesperson, condemned such “nefarious means” and “unconscionable methods” employed by some Nigerians to obtain graduate job opportunities for which they are unqualified.
With effect from 2nd January 2024, the ministry announced the suspension of certificate evaluation and accreditation from both countries, pending an investigation involving Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the concerned education ministries, the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the NYSC.
The ministry also urged Nigerians to provide information to aid the committee in preventing future incidents, saying that the Federal Ministry of Education has been dealing with the issue of illegal institutions, whether abroad or at home, that target both unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians and desperate individuals who knowingly seek their services.
“Periodically, warnings have been issued by the Ministry and NUC against the resort to such institutions and in some instances, reports made to security agencies to clamp down on the perpetrators. The ministry will continue to review its strategy to plug any loopholes, processes, and procedures and deal decisively with any conniving officials.” Obilor-Duru concluded.
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