FG Halts Benin, Togo Varsity Certificate Accreditation (FULL LIST)

The Federal Government has announced the suspension of the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo.

This decision, disclosed in a statement dated January 2nd and signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru, acting on behalf of the Director Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education.

The statement highlighted the government’s concern over the utilization of deceptive methods by some Nigerians to acquire degrees from these countries, aimed at securing job opportunities for which they lack qualifications.

Amidst these concerns, the suspension of the evaluation and accreditation process remains in place pending the conclusion of an investigation.

This investigation involves collaboration among the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria, the respective ministries of the countries in question, along with the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps.

“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 spokesperson for the Ministry of Education Augustina Obilor-Duru said in a Tuesday statement.

“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, and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC),” the statement reads.

This development comes in the wake of an investigative report published by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper titled “UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks” by Umar Audu.

In the report, the reporter obtained a degree from a university in Cotonou, the largest city in Benin, within an astonishingly short period of six weeks.

His engagement with a syndicate specializing in the sale of these notorious degree certificates from neighbouring countries facilitated his rapid attainment of a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies (ESGT) in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Audu, operating as an undercover reporter for the Daily Nigerian Newspaper, disclosed that he connected with an agent involved in a racketeering operation offering these certificates for sale at what was described as an ‘affordable rate’ in December 2022.

Shockingly, by February 2023, Audu had graduated from the institution with the degree mentioned above.

Remarkably, Audu revealed that the syndicate provided him with an option to either “study” for a year or merely a month, and he opted for the latter, emphasizing the expediency with which the degree was obtained.

The list of foreign universities banned by the NUC.

The commission also warned Nigerians to avoid enrolling in such institutions.

1. University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.

2. Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.

3. The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its campuses in Nigeria.

4. Collumbus University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.

5. Tiu International University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.

6. Pebbles University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.

7. London External Studies UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.

8. Pilgrims University operating anywhere in Nigeria.

9. West African Christian University operating anywhere in Nigeria.

10. EC-Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos Study Centre.

11. Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria.

12. Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria.

13. Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria.

14. University of Education, Winneba Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.

15. Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.

16. African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria.

17. Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre.

18. Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.