Nigerian Gov’t Halts Accreditation of Degrees from Benin and Togo

In a surprising turn of events, the Nigerian Federal Government has temporarily halted the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates obtained from Benin and Togo Republic.

The decision, disclosed in a statement by Mrs. Augustina Obilor-Duru, the Assistant Director of Press at the Ministry of Education, comes in the wake of a damning investigative report published by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper on December 30.

The exposé, titled “UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in six weeks, participated in NYSC scheme,” was conducted by Mr. Umar Audu, a reporter with the newspaper.

The investigation shed light on alleged irregularities in the acquisition of degrees from universities in Benin and Togo.

Mrs. Obilor-Duru emphasized that the suspension is pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the education ministries of the two countries, the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). She urged the public to cooperate by providing relevant information to aid the ongoing inquiry.

The Ministry of Education expressed concerns about the global issue of diploma mills, emphasizing that it’s not unique to Nigeria.

Mrs. Obilor-Duru affirmed the ministry’s commitment to adopting global standards for the evaluation and accreditation of certificates, ensuring the integrity of the education sector.

As part of its internal administrative processes, the ministry is also scrutinizing the actions of its staff, with applicable Public Service Rules to be enforced based on culpability.

The statement concluded with assurances from the ministry, pledging to work with stakeholders, including civil society organizations, to enhance and sanitize the Nigerian education system.