Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has disclosed that more than 22,500 Nigerians are using fake certificates acquired from Benin Republic and Togo between 2019 and 2023.
The Minister disclosed this on Friday at a press conference in Abuja, to mark his first anniversary, he said that over 21, 600 obtained the certificates from unaccredited universities in Benin Republic within the time frame, while about 1,105 also obtained theirs at some unaccredited Universities in Togo.
The Minister announced that a circular would be drafted by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to identify and prosecute those involved.
He clarified that only five universities in Benin and three in Togo are accredited to offer degree programs, and graduates from these institutions will not face any punitive actions.
In Addition, the Minister revealed that through various programs, primarily led by the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children, around four million out-of-school children have been brought back into classrooms.