The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated on Tuesday that security agencies will pursue individuals with counterfeit degree certificates in the country.
As per the minister, these individuals will be monitored once the committee assigned to inspect the operations of degree mills in the country presents its findings.
The Federal Ministry of Education had previously established a panel to investigate the activities of degree mills after a report by Daily Nigerian revealed their operations in Benin Republic.
Umar Audu, a reporter for Daily Nigerian, disclosed how he obtained a degree within six weeks and then went on to participate in the mandatory youth service under the National Youth Service Corps scheme.
Audu, who contacted the organization specializing in selling degree certificates in December 2022, obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from the Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, Cotonou, Benin Republic, and graduated in February 2023.
The report, which exposed the illegal activities of some tertiary institutions in West African countries, led the Nigerian government to prohibit the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from Benin Republic and Togo.
The committee was also instructed to examine private universities that were established in the past 15 years.
The committee recently called for submissions from the public and its members visited institutions in Benin Republic.
While addressing the first quarterly citizens engagement in Abuja on Tuesday, Mamman stated, “Regarding the issue of fake degrees, we formed a committee, and we anticipate their report soon.
“After the report is submitted, I can assure you that individuals with fake certificates will be apprehended. Security agencies will track them down.”
Also at the engagement, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, mentioned that the quarterly citizenship engagement aimed to raise awareness about the ministry's activities.
He pointed out that the engagement will, “further enhance mutual understanding with stakeholders and citizens; foster and maintain public trust; and enhance transparency and accountability in the sector.
“It's worth mentioning that this engagement is also designed to enhance efficiency and improve government operations by identifying and addressing obstacles.
