The Federal Government has announced plans to launch an investigation into private universities to assess their adherence to prescribed facilities, management structure, and funding of programs, among other criteria.
The decision follows recent media reports of an undercover journalist obtaining a university degree certificate from a Cotonou-based university within six weeks and subsequently being mobilized for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
A total of 107 private universities, established after 2009, are expected to be affected by the investigation. However, a notable exception is made for 40 private universities that fall outside this category, including institutions such as African University of Science and Technology, Achievers University, Babcock University, Covenant University, and Redeemer’s University, among others.
The investigation is part of the government’s broader effort to address concerns of degree certificate racketeering within both foreign and local private universities in Nigeria.
The inter-ministerial committee overseeing this initiative will also review the accreditation procedures and processes for university programs, assess the role of government agencies, and make recommendations to strengthen the system of recognition, accreditation, and quality assurance of degrees in Nigeria.
Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mammam emphasized the importance of examining the allegations of certificate racketeering and ensuring the effectiveness of accreditation processes by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The committee’s terms of reference include investigating unapproved foreign institutions, identifying individuals involved in facilitating fake certificates, and reviewing the procedures for granting provisional licenses to new universities by the NUC.
