The Federal Government has expanded its crackdown on dubious foreign degree certificates, announcing plans to suspend accreditation from countries including Uganda, Kenya, and Niger Republic. Education Minister Tahir Mamman revealed this information during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today program.
Following the earlier suspension of accreditation for degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo, the Education Minister emphasized the government’s determination to widen its scrutiny. “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo,” Mamman stated, “We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger here where such institutions have been set up.”
The decision comes in response to revelations from an undercover journalist who exposed the ease of obtaining a degree from a university in Benin Republic within two months, subsequently deploying for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The Federal Government swiftly suspended accreditation from both Benin Republic and Togo, launching a comprehensive probe set to conclude within three months. Minister Mamman underscored that individuals obtaining degrees from such institutions are not considered victims but participants in criminal activities. He stated, “I have no sympathy for such people. Instead, they are part of the criminal chain that should be arrested.”
Mamman also announced the intention to deploy security agents to apprehend individuals with fake foreign certificates currently exploiting them to secure opportunities within Nigeria. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving the integrity of educational qualifications within the country.