Nigeria shuts 18 foreign varsity campuses over fake degree scandal

The Federal Government of Nigeria has banned 18 foreign universities from operating in the country after allegations that they were being used by Nigerians to acquire fraudulent university certificates.

The affected institutions include five from the United States, six from the United Kingdom, and three from Ghana.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) explained that the Federal Government had not given any license to the affected universities, and therefore they were operating illegally in Nigeria.

This development follows the Federal Ministry of Education’s announcement on Tuesday, January 3, that it had temporarily suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

In its statement, the NUC stressed that the “degree mills” have not been granted licenses by the Federal Government, and thus they are operating illegally and violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. This law sets out the minimum standards required for institutions to be granted a license to operate in Nigeria.

The 18 universities that have been banned from operating in Nigeria include the University of Applied Sciences & Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, and any of its other campuses in Nigeria; Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, and any of its other campuses in Nigeria; the International University, Missouri, USA, with Kano and Lagos study centers, and any of its other campuses in Nigeria; and the Collumbus University, United Kingdom, operating anywhere in Nigeria.

The NUC also included Tiu International University, UK; Pebbles University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria; London External Studies UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pilgrims University, operating anywhere in Nigeria; West African Christian University, operating anywhere in Nigeria; EC-Council University, USA, with Ikeja, Lagos Study Centre; and Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria.

Others are 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, operating in Owerri; Evangel University of America & Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.

In a move to sanitise the education sector, the Federal Ministry of Education temporarily suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

The decision comes after an investigative report by the Daily Nigerian newspaper revealed how fake degrees from universities in Benin were being issued for a fee. The report exposed how officials from a Beninese university would produce fake degree certificates for anyone who was willing to pay, regardless of their qualifications. The Ministry of Education said it would take this opportunity to review its processes and ensure that only legitimate degrees are recognised.

The federal government said that the suspension will remain in place until an investigation involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria and the two affected countries, Benin and Togo, is completed. In addition, the investigation will also involve the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).