The Federal Government has announced the suspension of evaluation and accreditation of various degree certificates from neighbouring Benin Republic and Togo.
This was revealed in a statement yesterday in Abuja by Augustina Obilor-Duru on behalf of the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Federal Government frowned at how some Nigerians obtained their degrees through dubious means.
The statement said the suspension followed an investigative report by an online newspaper, which unravelled a Cotonou-based university that issued a degree certificate to an undercover journalist within six weeks.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to the commendable work of investigative journalism that led to the publication by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper, dated December 30, 2023, titled: Undercover: How Daily Nigerian Reporter Bagged Cotonou Varsity Degree in Six Weeks, participated in NYSC scheme.
“This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.
“The Federal Ministry of Education vehemently decries such acts and with effect from January 2, 2024 is suspending evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the two countries, the ministries responsible for Education in the two countries as well the Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).”
