A total of 18 foreign universities operating in Nigeria have been banned by the Federal Government. These universities have been described as “degree mills,” and Nigerians have been warned to avoid enrolling in such institutions.
The directive affects five universities from the United States, six from the United Kingdom, and three Ghanaian tertiary institutions.
The Federal Ministry of Education has also announced the temporary suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.
The National Universities Commission, in a statement published on its website, explained that the affected universities had 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 include 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 includes 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.
In an effort to sanitize the education sector, the Ministry of Education has temporarily suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo. This decision was made following an undercover investigative report titled, ‘How Daily Nigerian reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks,’ published by the Daily Nigerian newspaper.
Fake certificate
The investigative reporter, Umar Audu, obtained a degree from the institution within six weeks and also participated in the mandatory one-year scheme organized by the National Youth Service Corps. The Federal Ministry of Education decried the certificate racketeering exposed by the report and criticized Nigerians who engaged in desperate methods to obtain a degree.
The ministry has suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria, the two countries as well as the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps.
The Ministry further noted that the issue of institutions operating outside the control of regulators is a global problem, and the FME has been contending with this problem, including illegal institutions located abroad or at home preying on unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians.
In 2020, the NYSC said it would commence the prosecution of Nigerian graduates with fake credentials, especially from West African countries. A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, also noted that certain Nigerians were purchasing fake degrees from degree mills in and out of Nigeria. In September 2023, a newspaper exposed a certain London Graduate School selling fake honorary degrees to Nigerians.
Commenting on the development, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin, called for the establishment of a board to accredit foreign degrees in Nigeria. He also attributed the high number of fake degrees from degree mills in West African countries to the quest by Nigerians to obtain degree certificates through fraudulent means.
NANS appeals to the FG
The National Association of Nigerian Students has appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the suspension of accreditation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo, citing concerns about the impact on legitimate students who have pursued their education in the affected countries.
The students’ body maintained that the government needed to consider the impact of this decision on legitimate students who have invested significant time and resources in their education.
Many students have completed one, two, or three years of study, while others have successfully graduated and are eagerly awaiting the approval of their evaluation lists to participate in the National Youth Service Corps programme.
NANS argued that while the government’s commitment to upholding the integrity of academic qualifications is commendable, it is essential to carefully review the impact of this decision on legitimate students who have pursued their education genuinely.
The suspension could strain diplomatic and educational relations, and impact the opportunities available to Nigerian students in the neighbouring countries. The apex student body suggests that the Federal Government reverse the suspension while maintaining a rigorous and transparent evaluation process. This would demonstrate the government’s commitment to justice and fairness, ensuring that those who have legitimately pursued education in Benin Republic and Togo are not unfairly penalised.
