Officials have indicated that qualifications from Niger might also face scrutiny, raising concerns about the credibility of academic credentials from these regions.
The impact of this decision is significant, especially concerning degrees from Benin and Togo, which have reportedly been misused by Nigerians to secure employment or pursue higher education within Nigeria. Genuine candidates holding valid documents have been adversely affected, according to reports from local media.
The revelations surfaced during a media investigation, where an undercover reporter successfully obtained fraudulent degree qualifications from universities in Benin and Togo within a remarkably short period of two months. This high-profile investigation garnered public attention in Nigeria.
Federal Minister for Education Tahir Mamman, in a subsequent interview, declared that qualifications from the affected countries would undergo thorough scrutiny and would not receive automatic recognition from the country's accreditation authorities.
Minister Tahir Mamman emphasized the government's commitment to widening the investigation beyond Benin and Togo, extending it to countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and even Niger. The minister expressed the need to address institutions in these countries suspected of issuing fraudulent qualifications.
The inclusion of Kenya and Uganda on the list has raised questions, as specific universities or details regarding allegedly fraudulent qualifications have not been disclosed.
Degrees obtained from French-speaking Niger have also been added to the list of questionable qualifications. Minister Tahir Mamman made it clear that individuals knowingly acquiring fake degrees are viewed as participants in a criminal network and not victims.
In addition to restricting the recognition of degrees, Nigeria has taken action against 18 foreign universities operating within its borders. Among these, five claim to be from the United States, six from the United Kingdom, and three from Ghana.
The Nigeria University Commission stated that some of these universities lacked federal government licensing and, as a result, had been shut down. The commission's statement also highlighted the government's efforts in 2021, where 58 fake universities were listed on its website.
In the latest list of blacklisted institutions, universities claiming to be from the UK, including Columbus University, Tiu International University, Pebbles University, and London External Studies, were identified as unlicensed and closed down for violating educational standards.
