The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to extend the suspension of accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo to include countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Niger Republic.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, mentioned on a television program that the government is broadening its scrutiny to countries where institutions offering questionable degrees have been established.
This decision comes in response to an undercover journalist’s report detailing how he obtained a degree from a university in Benin Republic within two months and subsequently deployed for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
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Following this revelation, the Federal Government suspended the accreditation of certificates from Benin Republic and Togo and initiated a probe, with the minister stating that the report is expected in three months.
Mamman emphasized that students patronizing such institutions are considered criminals, not victims.
He stated that there would be no sympathy for such individuals and that security agents would go after those using fake certificates from foreign countries to secure opportunities in Nigeria.
Additionally, the minister addressed the issue of student loans, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to make it operational during the current quarter.
A committee is reportedly working to ensure the implementation of the president’s commitment.
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