The Federal Government Of Nigeria
Varsity certificate accreditation in Benin and Togo halted – FG. The Federal Government has declared the suspension of the evaluation and accreditation of degree credentials earned from Benin Republic and Togo universities.
This decision was announced in a statement dated January 2nd and signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru, speaking on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education’s Director Press and Public Relations.
The statement expressed the government’s concern over certain Nigerians using dishonest ways to obtain degrees from these nations in order to secure career opportunities for which they lack qualifications.
Despite these concerns, the examination and certification process has been halted pending the outcome of an investigation.
This inquiry involves collaboration between Nigeria’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education, as well as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of the nations in concern, as well as the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps.
“This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians use nefarious means and unconscionable methods to obtain a Degree with the end goal of obtaining graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified,” Ministry of Education spokesperson Augustina Obilor-Duru said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Federal Ministry of Education vehemently condemns such acts and, with effect from January 2nd, 2024, suspends evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republics of Benin and Togo pending the outcome of an investigation involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the two countries, the ministries responsible for Education in the two countries, as well as the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC)
This incident follows an investigative investigation published by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper headlined “UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks” by Umar Audu.
According to the story, the reporter earned a degree from a university in Cotonou, Benin’s capital, in an unusually short time of six weeks.
His involvement with a syndicate specializing in the sale of these infamous degree certificates from neighboring nations aided his quick completion of a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Audu, who was working as an undercover reporter for the Daily Nigerian Newspaper, revealed that he met with an agent involved in a racketeering operation who offered these items.