By John Ikani
Following the revocation of accreditation and scrutiny of academic credentials from Benin Republic and Togo, the Nigerian Government now plans to extend similar measures to other nations, including Uganda, Kenya, and Niger Republic.
“We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo,” declared Education Minister Tahir Mamman during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program. “We are going to broaden the scope to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger, where such institutions have been established.”
The measures come days after an investigative journalist exposed the expedited process of obtaining a degree from a Benin Republic university in less than two months, a certificate he subsequently used to get mobilised into Nigeria’s mandatory service programme known as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
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Reacting to the development, The Federal Government promptly suspended the accreditation of certificates from both francophone West African countries and initiated a comprehensive inquiry, with the minister indicating that the report is expected within three months.
Minister Mamman stressed that individuals utilizing the institutions are not mere victims but active participants in criminal activities. “I have no sympathy for such people. Instead, they are part of the criminal chain that should be apprehended,” asserted the minister on Wednesday.
Furthermore, Mamman stated that security agencies will pursue individuals wielding fraudulent certificates from foreign nations, exploiting them to gain advantages in Nigeria.
