Nigeria bans 18 foreign universities after certificate racketeering exposé
The Nigerian Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), has imposed a temporary ban on the evaluation and accreditation of certificates from 18 foreign universities operating in the country over claims of racketeering.
This decision follows a report from the Daily Nigerian that uncovered a thriving certificate racketeering syndicate operating in neighbouring African countries, particularly Benin and Togo. The illicit network specializes in selling university degrees to individuals in Nigeria who are willing buyers, Premium Times NG reports.
"The National Universities Commission wishes to announce to the general public, especially parents and prospective undergraduates, that the under-listed “degree mills” have not been licensed by the Federal Government and have therefore been closed down for violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004," a statement by the NUC read in part.
The suspended universities include University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin; Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana; The International University, Missouri, USA, with study centres in Kano and Lagos; Columbus University, UK; Tiu International University, UK; Pebbles University, UK; London External Studies UK; Pilgrims University; West African Christian University; EC-Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos Study Centre; Concept College/Universities (London), Ilorin; Houdegbe North American University; Irish University Business School London; University of Education, Winneba, Ghana; Cape Coast University, Ghana.
Others are African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic; Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado; Owerri Study Centre; and the Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.
The suspension, as stated by the ministry, will remain in effect pending the conclusion of an investigation that involves the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education in Nigeria, the two concerned countries (Benin and Togo), as well as the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
In the exposé by the Daily Nigerian, undercover reporter Umar Audu, posing as a student, managed to acquire a four-year Mass Communication degree certificate from ESGT, a university in Cotonou, Benin, established in 2009, within six weeks without attending any classes or undergoing examinations.
