In Lagos, Nigeria, on January 4th, the country has announced an extension of the suspension of degrees accreditation now encompassing additional nations such as Kenya and Uganda. This decision follows the recent suspension of degree accreditation from Benin and Togo.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman revealed the expansion during an interview on Nigeria’s Channels Television channel, stating, “We are not going to stop at just Benin and Togo. We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger here where such institutions have been set up.”
The move is a response to curb fraudulent qualifications from foreign degree mills, prompted by an investigative report from the nigerian Media.
The report, conducted by Umar Audu, exposed the ease with which a degree for a four-year program could be obtained from a Benin university in under two months.
Minister Mamman expressed no sympathy for those affected by the suspension, asserting that they are not victims but rather “part of the criminal chain that should be arrested.”
Nigeria has initiated a formal investigation into the ministries and agencies responsible for accrediting academic qualifications obtained abroad.
Mamman emphasized that this measure aims to safeguard Nigeria’s employers and preserve the integrity of the country’s qualifications.
