By Milcah Tanimu
The Federal Government has taken the decision to suspend the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo. This move comes in response to concerns about Nigerians employing deceptive methods to acquire degrees from these countries to secure job opportunities for which they lack qualifications.
In a statement dated January 2nd, Augustina Obilor-Duru, acting on behalf of the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, highlighted the government’s commitment to investigating these deceptive practices. The suspension of the accreditation process will remain in place until the conclusion of the joint investigation involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria, the respective ministries of Benin Republic and Togo, as well as the Department of State Security Services and the National Youth Service Corps.
The decision follows an investigative report by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper, revealing how a reporter obtained a degree from a university in Cotonou, Benin Republic, within a remarkably short period of six weeks. The syndicate involved in the sale of these degrees offered options for studying for either a year or a month, highlighting the urgency with which the degrees were obtained. The Federal Ministry of Education strongly condemns such acts and aims to address the issue through collaborative efforts with the relevant authorities in both countries.
Leave a Reply