Fake Degree Scam: Nigeria Identifies Eight Eligible Universities For Nationals In Togo, Benin Republic

To sanitise its educational system, the Federal Government has identified only eight universities accredited to award degrees to Nigerians in Togo and Benin Republic, respectively.

The decision followed Nigeria’s embarrassment when an undercover reporter obtained a fake degree from Benin Republic and was mobilised to participate in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.

Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education, revealed the accredited institutions on Sunday night while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

Remember that the Education Minister lamented that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fake degree certificates from the two countries and that such certificates would be cancelled.

The ugly cases of certificate racketeering were also prominently featured at a recent Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu, where a Committee was mandated to investigate degrees emanating from Togo and the Benin Republic in particular.

During the program, Mammam emphasised that only three institutions are recognised in Togo and five in the Benin Republic and that any institutions other than those eight are illegal.

Mamman listed the following public universities as federally approved institutions that offer degree programs in Togo to Nigerian students. Université de Lome, Université de Kara, and the Catholic University of West Africa.

Students from Nigeria could attend Universite D’abomey-Calavi, Universite De Parakou, Universite Nationale Des Sciences, Technologis Ingenierie Et Mathematiques, Universite Nationale D’ Agriculture, and Universite Africaine De Development Cooperative.

He insisted that the Federal Government’s decision to cancel approximately 22,700 certificates awarded to Nigerians by some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and the Republic of Benin is irreversible.

Mamman emphasised that the decision to invalidate the certificates was not harsh because Nigerians who obtained degrees from “illegal” tertiary institutions harmed the country’s image.

He stated, “The majority of those displaying fake certificates did not even leave Nigeria’s shores, but obtained their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials both at home and abroad.

“The “fake universities” took advantage of Nigerians’ “gullibility” in attending such fake schools.

“The federal government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, would identify those in government employment with such forged certificates. “I also encourage the private sector to follow suit.”