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Following the announcement by the Federal Ministry of Education to suspend the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates obtained from the Republic of Benin and Togo. This decision comes in the wake of an undercover investigation by a Nigerian newspaper exposing a degree mill in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Approximately 18 learning institutions have been blacklisted following the investigation, prompting the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to commend the Federal Government for the decisive action. In a statement signed by factional National Senate President, Elvis Ekundina, NANS urged the government to extend similar measures to home-based institutions offering unaccredited courses.
The undercover report revealed deceptive practices, including obtaining a degree within six weeks and participating in the National Youth Service Corps scheme. NANS expressed concern over Nigerians acquiring degrees from Benin Republic and Togo through deceptive means to secure job opportunities.
The student body called for an investigation into the activities of the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and other agencies implicated in fraudulent activities related to obtaining degree certificates from foreign universities.
While commending the government's swift decision, NANS emphasized the need for further steps to investigate relevant agencies involved in fraudulent activities. The association also called attention to privately owned tertiary institutions running unaccredited courses, labeling them as illegal and urging the government to take appropriate actions.
Ekundina urged the Federal Government to collaborate with NANS and other student bodies to eliminate illegal tertiary institutions, contributing to the overall improvement of the nation's education sector.
