In a significant development, the Federal Government of Nigeria has halted the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo. The announcement came on Tuesday, with the Federal Ministry of Education attributing the decision to an undercover investigation conducted by a Nigerian online platform.
The Ministry revealed that the investigation exposed the dubious activities of a degree mill in Cotonou, Benin Republic. The undercover reporter managed to obtain a degree from Cotonou University in a mere six weeks and subsequently participated in the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
In response to these revelations, the Federal Ministry of Education has suspended the recognition and validation of certificates obtained from universities in the Republic of Benin and Togo. The move aims to curb the proliferation of unaccredited institutions and uphold the integrity of academic qualifications.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has released a list of foreign universities that are now banned from operating in Nigeria. The list, available on the NUC website, includes the following institutions:
- University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
- Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
- The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centers; or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
- Collumbus University, UK, operates anywhere in Nigeria.
- Tiu International University, UK, operates anywhere in Nigeria.
- Pebbles University, UK, operates anywhere in Nigeria.
- London External Studies UK, operates anywhere in Nigeria.
- Pilgrims University, operates anywhere in Nigeria.
- West African Christian University, operates anywhere in Nigeria.
- EC-Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos Study Centre.
- Concept College/Universities (London), Ilorin, or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
- Houdegbe North American University, campuses in Nigeria.
- Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
- University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
- Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
- African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
- Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre.
- Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.
The government’s action underscores its commitment to maintaining the standards and credibility of academic qualifications within the country.