The Federal Government has officially recognized only eight universities in Togo and Benin Republic that are accredited to award degrees to Nigerian students.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced this on Sunday night during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme.
Mamman revealed that there are three recognized universities in Togo and five in Benin Republic.
He identified all other institutions offering degrees to Nigerians in these countries as illegal.
The three government-approved universities in Togo are:
1. Universite De Lome
2. Universite De Kara
3. Catholic University of West Africa
In Benin Republic, the five accredited universities are:
1. Universite D’Abomey-Calavi
2. Universite De Parakou
3. Universite Nationale Des Sciences, Technologies Ingenierie Et Mathematiques
4. Universite Nationale D’Agriculture
5. Universite Africaine De Developpement Cooperatif
This announcement comes after a press conference last Friday, where Mamman disclosed that over 22,500 Nigerians had obtained fake degree certificates from universities in Togo and Benin Republic. The government has decided to cancel these certificates.
“Most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad,” Mamman said. He stressed that these “fake universities” took advantage of the “gullibility” of Nigerians who were seeking easy degrees.
The minister explained that the federal government is determined to invalidate these fake certificates to protect the country’s image. He stated, “The federal government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary of the Federation, would fish out those in the government’s employment with such fake certificates. I also urge the private sector to follow suit.”
Mamman emphasized that the decision to cancel the fake certificates is final and necessary to maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s education system.
