Cotonou Magic: Reactions Trail Nigerian Govt’s Threat of Mass Sack Over Fake Foreign certificates

Reactions have poured in from across Nigeria following the federal government’s announcement that all degree certificates from Cotonou University in Benin Republic, issued from 2017 to date, will be invalidated, leading to mass sackings of people using parading certificates for employment in Nigeria.

Findings by EKO HOT BLOG revealed that this decision follows the government’s authorization to terminate the appointments of employees holding fake degrees acquired from the Republics of Benin and Togo.

The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed this during a press conference in Abuja.

He emphasized that the measures were approved at a recent Federal Executive Council meeting, presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

The minister noted that the decision was prompted by controversies surrounding Nigerians obtaining certificates from neighboring countries.

“Now, the recommendations will be implemented along with other ministries and agencies, including the NYSC and Immigration. Major decisions have to be made, and affected staff will face disciplinary measures after a thorough review,” he said.

“We can’t have people with fake certificates competing with our students who graduate from our universities and polytechnics, having spent four, five, or more years of hard work. In contrast, others procure certificates without proper education.”

He added that only three universities in Togo and five in Benin are officially approved to offer degrees.

“Anyone who didn’t attend these universities is parading a fake certificate. Since 2017, anyone attending a university conducted solely in English is wasting their time as it is not approved under their policy,” he stressed.

EKO HOT BLOG further gathered that the Federal Government has also suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republics of Benin and Togo, banning 18 foreign universities.

Assistant Director of Press, Ministry of Education, Mrs. Augustina Obilor-Duru, revealed in a statement that this suspension followed an investigative report published by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper on December 30.

The Nigerian government based its decision on an undercover investigation by a Nigerian journalist, which exposed a degree mill operating in Cotonou.

According to the investigation, the reporter obtained a degree from Cotonou University in just six weeks and participated in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

Obilor-Duru urged the public to support the government’s efforts by providing information that could help prevent such occurrences in the future.

“This report substantiates suspicions that some Nigerians use unethical methods to obtain degrees to secure graduate jobs they are not qualified for.

The ministry has also started internal administrative processes to determine the culpability of staff involved,” she said.

EKO HOT BLOG recalls how undercover journalist Umar Audu paid N600,000 to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from a Benin Republic institution in just two months.

He revealed that the certificate passed through Nigerian authorities without detection.

A Clinical Psychologist, Mcfredericks Edache, emphasized the need for the Federal Government to overhaul the education system, stating that mass sackings would not dissuade future perpetrators. Instead, he recommended regularizing the certificates.

“A certificate forgery scandal like this exposes the inadequacies of Nigeria’s education system. Instead of mass sackings, the government should provide a regularization window and address the system’s failings,” he said.

He further urged the government to accept responsibility and take practical steps to correct the issues, noting that mass unemployment would worsen the country’s economic situation.

On the other hand, Michael Akor, a Chemist, supported the government’s move, stating that the planned invalidation of certificates was necessary to protect the integrity of Nigerian education.

He, however, suggested that the academic capabilities of certificate holders should be assessed before any decisions are made.

A lecturer from Kwara State, Hassan Abdukuldri, argued that the issue reflects the deeper problems in Nigeria’s education system, where students face prolonged delays in their academic journey due to strikes and other disruptions. He called for urgent reforms to address these challenges.

Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman

According to Joseph Oloche from Benue State, the age limit of 30 years for employment in Nigeria is another factor pushing Nigerians to seek faster certification processes.

He argued that the government should either increase the age limit or create more jobs to alleviate this pressure.

“The looming job losses for those with invalid certificates are justified. The system should reward those who obtained their qualifications through proper channels,” he added.

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