Federal Government Closes 18 Foreign Universities Over Fake Degrees

The federal government has shut down 18 foreign universities operating in Nigeria for allegedly providing fake degrees. It has suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

The decision follows a Daily Nigerian report, which exposed how some officials of the Beninese University produced fake university degrees for a fee.

The banned universities include the University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin; Volta University College, Ho, Ghana; the International University, Missouri, the U.S., Kano and Lagos Study Centers; Columbus University, the U.K.; Pebbles University, the U.K. and Irish University Business School London, among others.

Nigeria's National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed the universities to shut down as they were operating without a valid license from the federal government.

"The National Universities Commission wishes to announce to the general public, especially parents and prospective undergraduates that the under-listed 'degree mills' have not been licensed by the Federal Government and have therefore been closed down for violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004," the NUC said, Punch reported.

The Ministry of Education praised the newspaper's investigative reporting.

"Federal Ministry of Education vehemently decries such acts and with effect from 2nd January 2024 is suspending evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics," it said in a news release.

The government said the suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of a probe involving the ministries of foreign affairs and education of Nigeria and the two countries, as well as the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps.

"The ministry therefore wishes to call on the general public to support its efforts, show understanding, and provide useful information that will assist the Committee in finding lasting solutions to prevent further occurrence," it added.

Professor Gbolahan Bolarin, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Federal University of Technology in Minna city, said the youths are becoming extremely impatient and looking to cut corners to get a degree.

"Beyond banning degrees from Togo and Benin Republics, we need to establish a board for foreign degrees accreditation or strengthen a department in NUC if there is one in place," Bolarin said.