January 3, 2024 NewsOrient

The Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn recognition of degrees from 18 foreign universities operating in Nigeria.

The action is part of government’s reaction to a recent undercover investigative report titled, ‘How Daily Nigerian Reporter Bagged Cotonou Varsity Degree In 6 Weeks,’ published by the Daily Nigerian newspaper.

The report exposed ongoing certificate racket in Benin Republic and other countries, through which some dubious elements from Nigeria obtain university degrees within few weeks and without attending a class for a single hour.

In it’s reaction to the report, the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday announced the temporary suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

In a statement published on its website, the National Universities Commission said: “The National Universities Commission wishes to announce to the general public, especially parents and prospective undergraduates that the under-listed “degree mills” have not been licensed by the Federal Government and have therefore been closed down for violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“The affected schools are the University of Applied Sciences & Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; the International University, Missouri, USA, Kano, and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its campuses in Nigeria and the Collumbus University, United Kingdom operating anywhere in Nigeria.

“The list also included Tiu International University, UK; Pebbles University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria; London External Studies UK operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pilgrims University operating anywhere in Nigeria; West African Christian University operating anywhere in Nigeria; EC-Council University, USA, Ikeja, Lagos Study Centre and Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria.

“Others are Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria; Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria; University of Education, Winneba Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre and Evangel University of America & Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.”

The Daily Nigerian report exposed vividly how some officials of the Beninese University produced fake university degrees in six weeks for a fee and how some Nigerians acquire such degrees and collude with corrupt officials to be enlisted for national serve before being employed as university graduates.

This revelation has again brought to the public knowledge the depth of corruption in Nigerian educational and social system today.

Photo Credit: Federal Ministry Of Education

~ NewsOrient