The Federal Government has dismissed viral social media reports alleging the existence of 2,000 universities and 100 fake professors in Nigeria, describing the claims as recycled misinformation.
The Federal Ministry of Education, through its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, issued a statement on Saturday to clarify the facts.
The ministry stated that the National Universities Commission has “never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria or published, endorsed or authenticated the purported list of individuals circulating online as fake professors”.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, spearheaded the clarification to stop what the ministry described as “recycled misinformation intended to mislead the public and discredit the nation’s university system”.
The controversy stems from a distorted version of a media report originally published on December 3, 2019. During that period, the NUC conducted an exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities and noted irregularities regarding individuals who falsely submitted their details. However, the ministry emphasized that the original 2019 report did not contain the specific names currently being circulated on social media, and the commission has since disowned those fabricated lists.
Expressing concern over the continued spread of the falsehoods, the ministry warned that the claims are “calculated to undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector, particularly the university system”.
To curb the spread of false information, the ministry urged members of the public, media organisations, and social media users to disregard the fabricated claims. It advised citizens to verify information concerning recognised universities and academic standards strictly through the NUC’s official channels.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the NUC in safeguarding academic integrity, strengthening quality assurance, and protecting the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.
