Nigerians question government integrity as Education Minister announces crackdown on fake certificates. Amid rising concerns over academic fraud, the Minister pledges to root out perpetrators.
In a bid to uphold educational integrity, Education Minister Tahir Mamman unveiled a comprehensive plan to purge public and private sectors of counterfeit certificates. The initiative follows the submission of a report by an inter-ministerial investigative committee chaired by Professor Jubrila Amin, tasked with probing degree certificate fraud within local and foreign universities.
The committee's inception on January 9 marked a pivotal step in addressing allegations of degree racketeering. Mandated to scrutinize the involvement of various governmental bodies in the procurement and validation of fake certificates, the committee embarked on a rigorous investigative process.
Presenting the committee's findings, Mamman expressed profound concern over the infiltration of fake credentials into Nigeria's professional landscape. He emphasized the need for decisive action, asserting that the integrity of the nation's educational system must be preserved at all costs.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Mamman vowed to collaborate with relevant agencies to implement stringent measures aimed at sanitizing the education sector. He underscored the government's unwavering commitment to upholding standards and ensuring the credibility of academic qualifications.
Chairman Amin echoed Mamman's sentiments, lamenting the dismal state of education uncovered during the committee's investigations. He highlighted the imperative of digitalizing and automating educational processes to expedite interventions and enhance oversight.
Moreover, Amin underscored the inadequacy of existing accreditation procedures, urging the National Universities Commission (NUC) to intensify scrutiny of institutions offering part-time or sandwich programs. He emphasized the committee's directive to the Ministry of Education to scrutinize certificates from suspect institutions rigorously.
Despite the government's proactive stance, critics have accused authorities of hypocrisy, pointing to past controversies surrounding senior officials' credentials, including allegations against the president. The public has called for transparency and accountability in addressing the issue, urging the government to lead by example and ensure equal treatment under the law.
