In a landmark move, the Federal Government has declared all degree certificates from universities in the Benin Republic and Togo, issued between 2017 and present, invalid.
This drastic measure comes after a year-long investigation into the rampant issuance of counterfeit degrees from neighboring countries.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, revealed the shocking truth at a press conference in Abuja, marking his first anniversary in office.
Flanked by top government officials, Mamman declared, “We can’t have individuals procuring fake certificates and competing with our genuine graduates. This menace has gone on for too long, and it’s time to take action.”
The probe, led by the Ministry of Education, uncovered a staggering 21,684 cases of fake degrees obtained from the Benin Republic and Togo between 2019 and 2023.
The Federal Executive Council, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, has authorized the termination of affected personnel in both public and private sectors.
Mamman emphasized, “We will not tolerate this academic fraud. Those who have procured fake certificates will face disciplinary measures, and their careers will be halted. We owe it to our genuine graduates to protect the value of their hard-earned degrees.”
The Minister’s bold move has sent shockwaves across the nation, with many calling for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system.
“As the dust settles, one thing is clear, the era of fake degrees is over, and a new dawn of academic integrity has begun”, the minister assured