Degrees from Benin, Togo temporarily suspended by Nigerian govt {SEE REASON}

By OUR REPORTER, Abuja

Majority of them, who school in Republic of Benin, Togo and Ghana like many other Nigerian students globally, however, have taken cognizance of existent unaccredited universities before seeking admission into their institutions of choice and thus will not expect that the federal government will place blanket ban on degrees because of wrong of few.

With effect from January 2, 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria says it has suspended accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Republic of Togo.

The DEFENDER reports that the trio of countries are ruled by Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Nigeria), Patrice Talon (Benin) and Gnassingbe Eyadema (Togo) and that Nigerians, who go out of tgeir country to seek higher education, find the two ECOWAS covered countries as saving grace against their possible lose out of advanced education opportunity occasioned by difficult experience assessing same locally.

Majority of them, who school in Republic of Benin, Togo and Ghana like many other Nigerian students globally, however, have taken cognizance of existent unaccredited universities before seeking admission into their institutions of choice especially in the countries in question: Republic of Benin and Republic of Togo thus will not expect that the federal government will place blanket ban on degrees because of wrong of few.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian government announced through a statement by its Federal Ministry of Education signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru on behalf of the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Ministry that it was temporarily suspending evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the two countries pending conclusion of its investigation following a report by Daily Nigerian, on online newspaper in the country, titled “How Daily Nigerian reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks”.

The government lamented that “some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified”.

According to the government, the suspension persists pending the outcome of an investigation involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria and the two countries as well as the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps.

The statement reads, “The Federal Ministry of Education vehemently decries such acts and with effect from 2nd January 2024 is suspending evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin and Togo Republics pending the outcome of an investigation that would involve the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the two countries, the ministries responsible for Education in the two countries as well the Department of State Security Services and the National Youths Service Corps.

“The Ministry therefore wish to call on the General Public to support its efforts, show understanding and provide useful information that will assist the Committee in finding lasting solutions in order to prevent further occurrence.

“The Ministry has also commenced internal administrative processes to determine the culpability or otherwise of her staff for which applicable Public Service Rules would be applied.

“The issue of degree mills institutions, i.e institutions that exist on paper or operate in clandestine manner outside the control of regulators is a global problem that all countries grapple with. FME has been contending with the problem including illegal institutions located abroad or at home preying on unsuspecting, innocent Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians who deliberately patronize such outlets.

“Periodically, warnings have been issued by the Ministry and NUC against the resort to such institutions and in some instances, reports made to security agencies to clamp down on the perpetrators. The ministry will continue to review its strategy to plug any loopholes, processes and procedures and deal decisively with any conniving officials,” the statement said.