The Federal Ministry of Education has suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo following the exposure of a degree mill in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The ministry blacklisted approximately 18 learning institutions implicated in the undercover investigation.
According to reports, an undercover journalist obtained a degree from a Cotonou university within six weeks and participated in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps scheme.
In response, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) commended the government’s decision but called for similar measures against home-based institutions offering unaccredited courses.
In a statement by factional National Senate President, Elvis Ekundina, NANS expressed concern over deceptive practices by Nigerians acquiring degrees from Benin Republic and Togo to secure job opportunities without proper qualifications.
The association urged the government to investigate relevant agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), implicated in fraudulent activities.
While applauding the swift suspension of foreign certificates’ accreditation, NANS emphasized the need for further investigation into relevant agencies to restore the country’s image.
The student body also called for scrutiny into the activities of privately-owned institutions running unaccredited courses, describing them as illegal and detrimental to the education sector.
Elvis Ekundina urged the Federal Government to collaborate with NANS and student bodies to eliminate illegal tertiary institutions, emphasizing the importance of repositioning the nation’s education sector.
A recent investigation by PUNCH Newspapers exposed a polytechnic in Ogun State offering courses typically exclusive to universities, highlighting the urgency of addressing such issues within Nigeria.
