The Federal Government of Nigeria has banned 18 foreign universities operating in the country, referring to them as “degree mills.” The ban encompasses five universities from the United States, six from the United Kingdom, and three from Ghana. Additionally, the Federal Ministry of Education temporarily suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) stated that the affected universities were not licensed by the Federal Government and had been shut down for violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The list of banned institutions includes universities from the Republic of Benin, Ghana, the United States, and the United Kingdom, along with several others operating in Nigeria.
The NUC warned the public, especially parents and prospective undergraduates, against enrolling in these unlicensed institutions. It emphasized that periodic warnings have been issued by the ministry and NUC, urging individuals to avoid such institutions. The ministry vowed to continue reviewing its strategy to plug any loopholes and deal decisively with any conniving officials.
In response to the ban, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin, called for the establishment of a board to accredit foreign degrees in Nigeria. He attributed the high number of fake degrees from degree mills in West African countries to the quest by Nigerians willing to cut corners in obtaining degree certificates.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Federal Government to reconsider the suspension of accreditation for degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo. NANS expressed concern for legitimate students who have invested time and resources in their education in the affected countries, facing uncertainty and potential delays in their academic and professional pursuits due to the suspension.
