The Federal Government has revealed that approximately 21,600 students are in possession of counterfeit degrees from degree mills in Benin Republic, Togo, and other countries.
This disclosure was made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, marking his first year in office.
Prof. Mamman highlighted that 1,105 of these students hold fake certificates specifically from Togo.
The government’s response to this issue began in March, when it established an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling. This move followed a report by Daily Nigerian that uncovered fraudulent degree mills operating in Benin Republic.
The Minister emphasised that both Nigerian and foreign fake degrees will be eliminated from the system.
He announced that the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) has been directed to issue a circular mandating the removal of individuals with counterfeit certificates.
In Togo, only three universities are officially authorized to award degrees, while in Benin Republic, five institutions are licensed for degree courses.
