The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially recognized eight universities in Togo and the Benin Republic as the sole accredited institutions authorized to grant degrees to Nigerian students. This development was announced by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, during a press conference that marked his first year in office.

In remarks made during the Sunday Politics program on Channels Television, Minister Mamman revealed a significant concern regarding the proliferation of counterfeit degree certificates, stating that over 22,500 Nigerians have unwittingly procured these fraudulent documents from non-accredited institutions situated in Togo and Benin. He highlighted that the Nigerian government has identified three legitimate universities in Togo and five in Benin Republic that are recognized for degree issuance for Nigerian students.

The list of accredited institutions in Togo comprises:
1. Université De Lomé
2. Université De Kara
3. Catholic University of West Africa

Meanwhile, the accredited institutions in the Benin Republic include:
1. Université D’Abomey-Calavi
2. Université De Parakou
3. Université Nationale Des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie Et Mathématiques
4. Université Nationale D’Agriculture
5. Université Africaine De Développement Coopératif

Minister Mamman reaffirmed the government’s commitment to invalidating the approximately 22,700 certificates obtained from these illegal universities, cautioning that those who possess such counterfeit degrees may face severe repercussions. He emphasized the necessity of this decision as a measure to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system.

Furthermore, the Minister underscored that many individuals with these fraudulent qualifications have never traveled outside Nigeria. Instead, they have fallen victim to racketeering schemes orchestrated by corrupt officials both domestically and abroad. “The fake universities exploited the naivety of many Nigerians,” Mamman remarked.

He called upon the private sector to assist the government in identifying employees who may hold such dubious qualifications. Additionally, efforts will be undertaken through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Federation to systematically address and eradicate instances of fraudulent qualifications within the public sector.

In conclusion, this initiative represents a critical step towards ensuring educational authenticity and safeguarding the credibility of Nigeria’s academic framework.

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