Nigeria Expands Crackdown on Fake Degrees, Targets Accreditation from Kenya and Uganda

Nigeria is expanding its crackdown on fraudulent academic qualifications by extending the suspension of degrees accreditation to more countries, including Kenya and Uganda. The decision comes shortly after the West African nation suspended the accreditation of degrees from Benin and Togo. Education Minister Tahir Mamman announced the broader scope, stating, “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo. We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger here where such institutions have been set up.”

This move is a response to concerns about fake qualifications from foreign degree mills, triggered by an exposé conducted by the Daily Nigerian newspaper. In the undercover investigation, a reporter from the newspaper, Umar Audu, demonstrated how he obtained a degree for a four-year program from a Benin university in less than two months.

Minister Mamman expressed no sympathy for individuals holding fake certificates from foreign countries, categorizing them as part of a criminal chain that should be apprehended. The Nigerian government has initiated a formal investigation into the ministries and agencies responsible for accrediting academic qualifications acquired abroad.

The minister emphasized that this measure aims to safeguard Nigerian employers and maintain the integrity of the country’s qualifications. He asserted that those with fraudulent certificates are not victims but rather complicit in criminal activities. Nigeria’s determination to address the issue comprehensively is reflected in its decision to scrutinize not only the recently suspended countries but also others with institutions facing accusations of providing dubious academic credentials.

The move underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring the credibility of educational qualifications and preventing the proliferation of fake degrees, which can have adverse effects on the workforce and the country’s educational reputation. The broader investigation is seen as a proactive step to secure the authenticity of qualifications and protect the interests of employers and the nation’s educational system.

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