The Federal Authorities via the Federal Ministry of Schooling on Tuesday introduced the suspension of accreditation of diploma certificates from Benin Republic and Togo.
In accordance with a press release on Tuesday signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru on behalf of the Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Schooling, the federal government lamented that “some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable strategies to get a Diploma with the tip goal of getting graduate job alternatives for which they aren’t certified”.
It adopted an investigative report by Day by day Nigerian Newspaper titled “How Day by day Nigerian reporter bagged Cotonou varsity diploma in 6 weeks”.
In accordance with the federal government, the suspension persists pending the result of an investigation involving the Ministries of Overseas Affairs and Schooling of Nigeria and the 2 international locations in addition to the Division of State Safety Providers and the Nationwide Youths Service Corps.
The assertion reads, “ The Federal Ministry of Schooling vehemently decries such acts and with impact from 2nd January 2024 is suspending analysis and accreditation of diploma certificates from Benin and Togo Republics pending the result of an investigation that may contain the Ministry of Overseas Affairs of Nigeria and the 2 international locations, the ministries liable for Schooling within the two international locations as properly the Division of State Safety Providers and the Nationwide Youths Service Corps.
“The Ministry due to this fact want to name on the Common Public to assist its efforts, present understanding and supply helpful info that can help the Committee find lasting options with the intention to forestall additional incidence.
“The Ministry has additionally commenced inner administrative processes to find out the culpability or in any other case of her workers for which relevant Public Service Guidelines can be utilized.
“The problem of diploma mills establishments, i.e establishments that exist on paper or function in clandestine method exterior the management of regulators is a worldwide downside that each one international locations grapple with. FME has been contending with the issue together with unlawful establishments positioned overseas or at dwelling preying on unsuspecting, harmless Nigerians and a few determined Nigerians who intentionally patronize such shops. Periodically, warnings have been issued by the Ministry and NUC towards the resort to such establishments and in some situations, reviews made to safety businesses to clamp down on the perpetrators. The ministry will proceed to evaluate its technique to plug any loopholes, processes and procedures and deal decisively with any conniving officers.”
The PUNCH reviews that in 2020, the NYSC mentioned it might start the prosecution of Nigerian graduates with faux credentials, particularly from West African international locations.
A former Govt Secretary of the Nationwide Universities Fee, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed additionally in 2020 famous that sure Nigerians have been buying faux levels from diploma mills out and in of Nigeria.
In September 2023, a newspaper uncovered a sure London Graduate Faculty promoting faux honorary levels to Nigerians.