Nigerian govt releases list of approved universities in Benin, Togo

…insists on sacking of fake certificate holders

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has released a list of universities approved to offer degree certificates in Benin and Togo Republics.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the minister had on Friday disclosed that most of the universities attended by Nigerians in the two West African countries are not accredited to offer degree programs.

He stated this while disclosing some recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee set up to investigate an undercover report on certificate racketeering by DAILY NIGERIAN newspaper.

Mr Mamman said the committee uncovered over 22,700 fake certificates awarded to Nigerians.

He also said President Bola Tinubu had approved the sacking of any worker parading fake certificates from the two Francophone countries.

Speaking during an interview on Channels TV on Sunday, the minister revealed that only eight universities have the approval in their host countries to offer degree programs.

The minister also confirmed the findings of DAILY NIGERIAN investigation that most people parading the certificate didn’t even travel outside the shores of Nigeria.

According to him, the only three universities approved to offer undergraduate programs are: UNIVERSITE DE LOME, UNIVERSITE DE KARA, and CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF WEST AFRICA.

In the Benin Republic, Mr Mamman said the universities approved are: UNIVERSITE D’ABOMEY-CALAVI, UNIVERSITE DE PARAKOU, UNIVERSITE NATIONALE DES SCIENCES, TECHNOLOGIES.

INGENIERIE ET MATHEMATIQUES, UNIVERSITE NATIONALE D’AGRICULTURE, and UNIVERSITE AFRICAINE DE DEVELOPMENT.

He insisted that those parading certificates from any unlicensed university would be kicked out of the civil service, dismissing concerns that the decision was harsh.

“The federal executive council has directed the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, to fish out those in the employment of the government with such fake certificates, and we expect the private sector to follow suit,” he said.