Suleiman Abubakar
In a decisive move against academic fraud, the Federal Government has declared all degree certificates issued by Cotonou University between 2017 and the present as invalid.
Additionally, all individuals employed by the Federal Government who possess these certificates are to be immediately terminated.
This action is part of a broader crackdown on counterfeit degrees obtained from institutions in the Republics of Benin and Togo.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced the initiative during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, marking his first anniversary in office.
He revealed that the decision was sanctioned by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) following a comprehensive review by a committee set up by the Ministry of Education.
The review identified 21,684 students from Benin Republic and 1,105 from Togo holding fake certificates obtained between 2019 and 2023. These certificates were issued by institutions not officially recognized in their respective countries.
Minister Mamman emphasized that the non-recognition of these institutions in their home countries disqualifies the certificates from being recognized in Nigeria.
The government has mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to issue a circular to all employers, both public and private, instructing them to identify and dismiss any employee holding these invalid certificates.
The Head of Service has also been directed to ensure that such individuals are removed from the public service.
This landmark decision underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system and ensuring that only legitimately earned qualifications are recognized.
