The Federal Government on Monday said it has commenced comprehensive screening of over 40,000 degrees claimed to have been obtained by Nigerian students who studied in foreign institutions. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who made this known in Abuja while inaugurating the 16-man screening committee said the measure was aimed at detecting possible cases of fake foreign degrees obtained, particularly from sub-standard institutions in Africa and beyond.
The Minister further said available data indicates that no fewer than 40,000 Nigerians were either holding such certificates or currently studying in various tertiary institutions abroad. He said degrees from questionable institutions, especially from countries such as Benin Republic, Togo and Cameroon, had already been identified by the ministry.
According to him;
“There arose the need to assess the quality of foreign qualifications obtained by Nigerians in order to determine the Nigerian equivalence for the purpose of further studies and employment. The recommendations that will be given by the committee will prove crucial to the well-being and future of those that acquired the qualifications and foreign certificates.”
Speaking also, the Director, Education Support Services, Mrs. Justina Ibe said the Ministry has prosecuted 20 persons for certificate forgery and falsification of signatures of officials of the ministry.
“From 2015 to 2017, not less than 20 persons have been caught and handed over to the ICPC or the police with respect to forgery of certificates, presentation of fake certificates, forgery of signature of ministry officials, etc, out of which one person has been jailed for seven years.
The main reason for convening this important meeting is to enable members of the National Standing Committee, which is the highest decision-making body on evaluation of foreign qualifications, to deliberate on issues that would be presented and take appropriate decisions.”