By Damilare Adeleye
The Federal Government has confirmed that only five universities in Benin Republic and three in Togo are officially accredited to offer degree programmes.
It is understood that students who graduated from these schools are exempted from any punitive actions.
The Education Minister, Prof. Mamman Tahir, announced this on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
In Togo, the three accredited universities approved by the Nigerian government are: Université de Lomé, Université de Kara and Catholic University of West Africa.
In the Benin Republic, the five accredited public universities are: Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Université de Parakou, Université Nationale des Sciences, Technologies, Ingénierie et Mathématiques, Université Nationale d’Agriculture and Université Africaine de Développement Coopératif.
These universities are the only ones recognized by the Federal Government for Nigerian students.
Recall that the Federal Government on Friday approved recommendations to sack workers in the public and private sectors who used fake certificates from unaccredited universities in Benin Republic and Togo to get jobs.
Prof. Mamman disclosed that over 22,500 Nigerians obtained fake certificates from these countries between 2019 and 2023.
Out of these, over 21,600 came from unaccredited universities in Benin Republic, and about 1,105 from unaccredited universities in Togo.
He said, “From all indications, the figure is higher than what we have already. This is because some of the people choose not to participate in the mandatory NYSC scheme and other engagements that would have enabled us to harvest their data.
“Sadly, these people have used the fake certificates to apply and secure job opportunities in government and private organizations with the mindset that they schooled abroad, while people who studied day and night are out there looking for job opportunities.
“Even within the countries, Benin and Togo, these universities are not accredited to offer degree programmes. I don’t know how Nigerians chose to go to unaccredited institutions abroad to ‘study’. Our investigations also indicated that many of the people never even attended the school physically. ”