In a significant shake-up affecting Nigeria’s education sector, the Federal Government has declared that all degrees issued by Cotonou University since 2017 are null and void. This sweeping decision, announced by Minister of Education Tahir Mamman, also requires the immediate dismissal of Federal Government employees found to have fake degrees from universities in Benin and Togo.
The announcement came on the first day of Mamman’s tenure, marking a decisive move to address concerns about fraudulent academic qualifications. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mamman revealed that the decision was made following a recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
“This action is a response to the disturbing reports we’ve received about students obtaining degrees from unaccredited or non-existent institutions without attending classes,” Mamman said. He further elaborated that a committee was established to investigate the issue after evidence surfaced that Nigerian students were acquiring degrees from dubious schools in neighboring countries.
The findings of the committee led to a series of recommendations, which were subsequently approved by the FEC. These recommendations included disciplinary actions against affected employees, with a clear directive to both public and private sector employers to terminate staff holding degrees from these unapproved institutions.
According to Mamman, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has identified over 21,684 students with forged certificates from the Benin Republic and 1,105 from Togo, all obtained between 2019 and 2023. He emphasized that these institutions lack accreditation in their home countries and should not be allowed to compete with degrees from Nigeria’s accredited universities and polytechnics.
“Degrees from institutions that have been operating in the English language since 2017 and are not officially recognized are considered invalid,” Mamman stated. “We cannot allow these so-called institutions to undermine the hard-earned qualifications of our students.”
To enforce this directive, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) will circulate a notice to all employers, instructing them to identify and remove employees with degrees from these invalidated institutions. The Head of Service has also been tasked with ensuring that such individuals are removed from public service positions.
Mamman’s statement underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to upholding the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system and ensuring that all graduates from recognized institutions are fairly represented. This policy shift reflects ongoing efforts to combat educational fraud and reinforce the value of legitimate academic qualifications in Nigeria.
The move has been met with a mix of support and skepticism. While some applaud the government’s decisive action against fraudulent degrees, others question the feasibility and fairness of implementing such broad measures. As Nigeria continues to grapple with educational integrity issues, the new policy marks a crucial step in addressing long-standing concerns within the academic community.
The Federal Government’s decision represents a firm stance on maintaining high standards in education and aims to restore confidence in Nigeria’s academic credentials both domestically and internationally.
