The Federal Government has initiated a probe into private universities established in the last 15 years following an investigative report uncovering certificate racketeering in neighbouring Benin Republic and Togo. The Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling, established by the Federal Government, will examine various aspects of private universities to ensure compliance with prescribed standards.
The committee will investigate whether private universities established within the last 15 years have the necessary facilities, appropriate management structures, adequate funding for programs, and the right staff composition. This includes examining the types of staff employed, such as full-time, contract, adjunct, visiting, and others.
The probe aims to address the menace of degree mills and ensure the integrity of academic qualifications. The committee has called for memoranda from the general public to provide information that will assist in making appropriate recommendations. The investigation will complement the periodic accreditation exercises carried out by the National Universities Commission.
The initiative was prompted by an investigative report by a Daily Nigerian journalist, Umar Audu, who exposed the ease with which individuals could obtain degrees within a short period from institutions in Benin Republic. The Federal Government announced its intention to investigate private universities following the publication of the report.
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, inaugurated the Inter-Ministerial Committee on fake degrees and activities of degree mills. The committee’s mandate includes reviewing the role of government agencies or officials involved in facilitating the recognition and procurement of fake certificates. It will also assess the rules and procedures for accrediting foreign universities and programs, identify unapproved foreign institutions operating as degree mills in Nigeria, and make recommendations to strengthen the accreditation and quality assurance system.
Overall, the probe into private universities aims to safeguard the credibility of academic qualifications and prevent fraudulent practices in the education sector.
