Federal Government Shuts Down 18 Foreign Universities, Suspends Evaluation of Certificates from Benin and Togo

The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a decisive step in upholding educational standards by banning operations of 18 foreign universities in the country, labeling them as ‘degree mills’. Among these, five are from the United States, six from the United Kingdom, and three from Ghana.

This move was announced by the National Universities Commission, emphasizing that these universities lacked the necessary licensing from the government and have been shut down for breaching educational standards set by the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of Nigeria.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has temporarily halted the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo. This suspension follows an investigative report by the Daily Nigerian newspaper, uncovering a certificate racketeering scheme. The report revealed how individuals could obtain degrees within an incredibly short period and highlighted instances of producing fake university degrees for a fee.

In response to this, the Ministry of Education has condemned such actions and suspended the evaluation and accreditation of certificates from Benin and Togo pending an investigation. This investigation will involve the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of both countries, along with the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps.

The Ministry urges the public to cooperate, provide relevant information, and pledges to take necessary administrative actions to address the issue. It also acknowledges the global challenge of dealing with unaccredited or clandestine educational institutions, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to prevent such occurrences in the future.