Federal Government to Invalidate Degree Certificates from Cotonou University Issued Since 2017; Orders Immediate Termination of Affected Employees.√√√Newzspy.

In a sweeping crackdown on academic fraud, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that all degree certificates issued by Cotonou University between 2017 and the present will be rendered invalid. This decision comes amid rising concerns over the proliferation of counterfeit and unaccredited qualifications obtained from neighboring countries. The government’s move will have significant ramifications across both the public and private sectors, with affected employees facing immediate termination.

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed these developments during a press conference in Abuja on Friday, marking his first anniversary in office. Mamman revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, had approved a series of stringent measures aimed at addressing the growing problem of fraudulent academic qualifications. The decisions were taken during a recent FEC meeting and are set to be implemented across various government ministries and agencies.

Addressing journalists, Mamman said, “One of the major issues we tackled this past year was the alarming trend of Nigerian students obtaining degrees from neighboring countries—often without even attending classes—only to return and compete for jobs with graduates from our own universities and polytechnics who have worked hard for their qualifications. This is unacceptable.”

The Minister explained that the Ministry of Education had established a committee to investigate the issue, following reports that thousands of Nigerians were acquiring fake certificates from institutions in the Republics of Benin and Togo. The committee’s findings, which included a detailed review of the situation, were presented to the FEC last month. The council subsequently approved several of the committee’s recommendations, which are now set to be enforced.

One of the key actions approved by the FEC is the invalidation of over 21,684 certificates obtained from unaccredited institutions in the Republic of Benin between 2019 and 2023. Additionally, 1,105 certificates issued by unrecognized schools in Togo have been flagged as fraudulent. Mamman emphasized that these institutions are not even accredited to offer degree programs in their home countries, making any qualifications they issue completely worthless.

“The critical point here is that these degrees are not recognized by the authorities in those countries. They are essentially non-existent in the eyes of their own governments, so how can we, in good conscience, recognize them here in Nigeria?” Mamman asked.

The Minister further clarified that, as of 2017, any Nigerian student who attended a university in the Republic of Benin that operated solely in English is holding a useless certificate. According to him, the policy of the Benin Republic is clear: only institutions that offer degree programs in the official language, French, are recognized. Consequently, degrees from English-only institutions in Benin are automatically considered invalid.

This revelation has far-reaching implications. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are among the agencies that will be involved in implementing the government’s new directives. The NYSC has already identified thousands of graduates with dubious certificates who managed to slip through the system. According to Mamman, the real number of those with fake certificates could be much higher, as some individuals never even attempted to register for the NYSC, knowing their credentials would not pass scrutiny.

In a decisive move, the FEC has mandated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to issue a circular directing all employers in both the public and private sectors to identify and dismiss any employee found to possess a certificate from these unrecognized institutions. The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has also been instructed to begin an immediate purge of the public service, targeting those with fraudulent qualifications.

“The circular should already be in circulation by now,” Mamman stated. “This is a matter of national integrity. We cannot allow individuals with fake certificates to undermine the value of genuine qualifications earned through hard work and dedication.”

The government’s decision has sent shockwaves across the country, particularly among those who may be affected. As the crackdown begins, many are bracing for the repercussions of holding fraudulent qualifications, while employers are expected to carry out thorough audits of their workforce to comply with the new directives.

This marks a significant step by the Tinubu administration in its broader agenda to restore credibility and standards within Nigeria’s education system. The message is clear: there will be no tolerance for academic fraud, and those who engage in it will face severe consequences.

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