Nigeria is intensifying its efforts to safeguard its academic credentials by broadening the scope of its suspension of degrees accreditation, now encompassing countries like Kenya and Uganda, following the recent suspension of accreditations from Benin and Togo.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman disclosed during an interview on Nigeria’s Channels Television that the country will expand its measures beyond Benin and Togo. He emphasized, “We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger here where such institutions have been set up.”
This crackdown is a response to concerns about counterfeit qualifications from foreign degree mills, prompted by an investigative report from the Daily Nigerian newspaper.
The report, led by Umar Audu, exposed how a degree for a four-year program from a Benin university was obtained in less than two months through an undercover investigation.
Expressing his firm stance on the matter, Mr. Mamman emphasized that individuals affected by these measures are not considered victims but are rather viewed as complicit in a criminal network deserving of apprehension.
He further stressed that the government has initiated a formal investigation into the ministries and agencies responsible for accrediting academic qualifications acquired abroad.
The overarching objective of these stringent actions, as outlined by Mr. Mamman, is to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s qualifications and protect employers from fraudulent credentials.
