The Nigerian government has suspended the evaluation and accreditation of university degrees from Benin and Togo. This decision, effective January 2nd, 2024, follows an investigative report exposing “degree mills” operating in Cotonou, Benin.
The report, published by the Daily Nigerian newspaper, detailed how an undercover journalist obtained a degree from a Cotonou university in just six weeks and even participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. This raised concerns about the legitimacy of degrees issued by certain institutions in these countries.
In a statement, Augustina Obilor-Duru on behalf of the Director Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, acknowledged the report’s merit and condemned the “nefarious means” used by some Nigerians to acquire degrees for job opportunities.
The suspension will remain in place pending an investigation involving various authorities, including the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the relevant ministries in Benin and Togo, the Department of State Security Services, and the NYSC.
The statement reads in parts;
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to the commendable work of investigative journalism that led to the publication by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper dated 30th December 2023 titled “UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC scheme.
This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.
The Federal Ministry of Education vehemently decries such acts and with effect from 2nd January 2024 is suspending evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the two countries, the ministries responsible for Education in the two countries as well the Department of State Security Services (DSSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).”