FG Suspends Accreditation Of Degree Certificates From Benin Republic, Togo

The accreditation and evaluation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo have been suspended by the Federal Government.

The move followed the acquisition of a degree from the university in Benin Republic in under two months.

Osun Defender had reported that a Nigerian, Umar Audu bagged a Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks, and subsequently participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Audu, who reached out to a racketeering syndicate that specialises in selling the infamous degree certificates from the neighboring countries to willing buyers at an ‘affordable rate,’ in December 2022, graduated in February 2023 and was issued a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication certificate from the Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, ESGT, Cotonou, Benin Republic.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Augustina Obilor-Duru, in a statement ob Tuesday, said “This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.

“The 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 pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the two countries, the ministries responsible for Education in the two countries as well the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

“The ministry is also calling on Nigerians to assist in providing information to help the committee as it seeks lasting solutions to prevent future occurrences.

“FME has been contending with the problem including illegal institutions located abroad or at home preying on unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians who deliberately patronize such outlets

“Periodically, warnings have been issued by the Ministry and NUC against the resort to such institutions and in some instances, reports made to security agencies to clamp down on the perpetrators. The ministry will continue to review its strategy to plug any loopholes, processes, and procedures and deal decisively with any conniving officials.”