The Federal Government has announced that only eight universities are accredited to award degrees to Nigerians in Togo and Benin Republic.
Minister of Education Tahir Mamman revealed this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, stating that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fraudulent degrees from these countries, which would be annulled.
This follows a report presented to the Federal Executive Council by a committee investigating degree certificate fraud by both foreign and local universities in Nigeria.
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The minister explained that a recent undercover investigation showed a Nigerian journalist securing a degree from a Benin Republic university in less than two months, which was then used to gain National Youth Service Corps placement.
Mamman clarified that the Federal Government recognizes only three universities in Togo and five in Benin Republic, deeming all others as unauthorized.
He listed the public universities below as the federal government-approved institutions to offer degree programs in Togo for students from Nigeria.
1. Universite De Lome
2. Universite De Kara
3. Catholic University of West Africa
The minister also listed five accredited universities authorized to provide degree programs in Benin Republic of Benin for students from Nigeria.
1. Universite D’abomey-Calavi
2. Universite De Parakou
3. Universite Nationale Des Sciences, Technologis Ingenierie Et Mathematiques
4. Universite Nationale D’ Agriculture
5. Universite Africaine De Devlopment Cooperatif
The minister reaffirmed that the Federal Government’s decision to cancel approximately 22,700 certificates issued by “fake” universities in Togo and Benin Republic is final.
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Mamman emphasized that this action is necessary to protect the country’s reputation, as degrees from these “illegal” institutions undermine Nigeria’s image.
He said, “Most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad.
“The “fake universities” capitalised on the “gullibility” of Nigerians patronising such fake schools.
“The federal government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Federation, would fish out those in the government’s employment with such fake certificates. I also urge the private sector to follow suit.
[…] Source: informantonline […]