The Minister of Education revealed that a significant number of Nigerians have been discovered to possess fake certificates from Benin Republic and Togo obtained between 2019 and 2023. More than 22,500 individuals were found to be in possession of these counterfeit certificates. Out of this figure, over 21,600 acquired their certificates from unaccredited universities in Benin Republic, with approximately 1,105 others obtaining theirs from unaccredited universities in Togo.
During a press conference in Abuja to mark his first anniversary, the Minister highlighted that some individuals had managed to secure job opportunities in both government and private sectors using these fake certificates. He emphasized that many of these individuals had not even physically attended the unaccredited institutions where they claimed to have studied.
To address this issue, the Minister mentioned that a circular is being prepared to enable the identification and prosecution of those involved in the possession of fake certificates. Private sector organizations were also encouraged to investigate their staff holding foreign certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo within the specified period for necessary actions.
Additionally, the Minister stated that efforts to combat the issue of out-of-school children have been yielding results, with about four million children being reintegrated into the educational system through various programs. The Minister expressed the goal of having millions of children return to school annually to significantly reduce the number of out-of-school children by the end of the administration.
The exposure of degree mills in Benin Republic and Togo by investigative reports led to the Nigerian government banning the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from these countries. The Minister acknowledged the need to flush out holders of fake degrees from both Nigerian and foreign universities as part of the efforts to address the proliferation of fake certificates.
Recommendations from a committee report included the adoption of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) by universities in the country for admissions and the mandatory submission of matriculation lists.