Education
Nigeria Blacklists Reps Of Benin, Togo Universities
The Nigerian government has resolved to not to recognise University degree certificates from the Republics of Benin and Togo, from 2017 to date.
The Minister of Education Tahir Mammanm made the disclosure at a press conference to mark his first anniversary in office, in Abuja on Friday.
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Consequently, all degree certificates from Cotonou University issued between 2017 and the present have been rendered invalid.
The implications are that all personnel currently employed by Nigerian government with such certificates would be terminated immediately.
Mammanm informed the media that the resolutions were endorsed by a recent meeting of the federal executive council, presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
According to him, the termination of employees affects both the public and private sectors andrelate to counterfeit degree certificates acquired from the Republics of Benin and Togo.
He said, “One of the things we did in the course of the year was — remember when information broke out about some of our students going to neighbouring countries — some not even going at all — to obtain certificates.
“The ministry set up a committee to look into that; the committee came up with a detailed review; that review was sent to the federal executive council about a month ago, which approved some of the recommendations from the ministry.
“Now the recommendations will be implemented along with other ministries and agencies affected, including NYSC, Immigration.
“Because we have to take some major decisions here, some staff who are affected faced disciplinary measures, and that the whole unit went through some kind of review.
“But by and large, we can’t have in our midst people who procure fake certificates and to compete with our students who graduated from our universities and polytechnics through their sweat, some spent four, five, six, or more years going out to compete with people who procure certificates right here without going anywhere, for a lot of them.
“So what the FEC now approves is that, through the data, that NYSC has, about 21,684 students that are parading fake certificates from Benin Republic, obtained between 2019 to 2023.
“Togo is about 1,105. How did that happen? They simply attend schools, which are not recognised in those countries.
“Remember, this point is extremely important. The non-recognition itself is in those countries. They are not institutions recognised to offer degree programs in those countries.
“Instead, some of our parents, take their wards to these institutions, and of course there is no way we would recognise qualifications which are not recognised in those countries.
“In the case of Togo, we have three universities that are officially approved and licensed to offer degrees, and in Benin, there are about five of them.
“So anyone who didn’t attend these universities is parading a fake certificate.
“And from 2017, anybody who attended a university solely run in English is wasting his time because it’s not an approved university. That is their policy.
“But a lot of our countrymen went there — some didn’t go anyway; remember, these numbers are just what we have, a lot of them didn’t even bother to go to NYSC.
“The number may be more …. Some who attempted to but couldn’t succeed in the screening process disappeared into thin air.
“So in the final analysis, what the federal government approved is that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, will issue a circular to all employers, whether public or private, to fish out anybody with a certificate from these institutions — that circular probably would have been out by now.
“And the Head of Service, has also been mandated to fish out from the public service anybody who is parading certificate from these institutions.
“So this is the decision of the federal government on this matter”.
Education
Warri School Gets Support from NCDMB, Techico
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Techico Resource Solutions Limited, has provided educational materials and teaching tools to Ugbuwangue Secondary School in Warri, Delta State.
The intervention was formally handed over to the school on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at a ceremony attended by representatives of NCDMB, Techico Resource Solutions Limited, the school leadership, teachers, students, and members of the Ugbuwangue community.
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A statement from the partners on Thursday has it that the support was provided under the “Back to the Creeks” initiative, which was designed to address practical challenges facing students and teachers by providing resources to improve the learning environment and support more effective teaching and learning.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of Techico Resource Solutions Limited, Omolola Bolushire, expressed appreciation to NCDMB for supporting the vision behind Back to the Creeks and investing in the future of young people.
She said the initiative demonstrated the importance of moving beyond conversations about development to taking practical steps that respond to the needs of communities.
“It is easy to talk about development. It is something else entirely to come into a community, listen, identify real needs and commit resources to making a difference,” Bolushire said.
Bolushire urged the school and Ugbuwangue community to take ownership of the intervention and protect the resources provided so that future generations could continue to benefit from them.
“These are not simply gifts to a community. They are an investment in a community. Please protect the facilities, protect the school and protect what has been provided,” she said.
Representing NCDMB, Mrs Khadija Jekine, who represented the Executive Secretary, said the Board was pleased to support an initiative focused on improving the learning experience of young people.
“Education is an investment in the future. By supporting schools and young people, we are helping to create opportunities that can have a lasting impact on communities,” Jekine said.
The Principal of Ugbuwangue Secondary School, Mrs Morrison Jemiyotan, also expressed appreciation for the intervention, noting that the resources would support both teachers and students.
“We are grateful for this support. These materials will make a meaningful difference to our school, and we are committed to ensuring that they are properly used and maintained for the benefit of our students,” the Principal said.
The Back to the Creeks initiative reflects the shared commitment of NCDMB and Techico Resource Solutions Limited to supporting communities and creating opportunities for young people through education.
Education
Students, Lecturers In Limbo As TSU Strike Drags On
As the indefinite strike at Taraba State University (TSU) continues, both students and lecturers have been caught in a standoff over unresolved issues between the state government, the University’s management, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The strike, which has led to the suspension of exams and left the campus in disarray, stems from long-standing disputes regarding the welfare of lecturers and critical institutional concerns.
Students at TSU, Jalingo, are facing growing uncertainty as the academic calendar remains halted amid the ongoing crisis.
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The Chairperson of ASUU-TSU, Dr. Garba Joshua, disclosed that the strike commenced after a 30-day grace period lapsed without meaningful action from the state government and university authorities to address key demands.
“The unresolved grievances include the lack of a pension scheme, non-payment of salary arrears, failure to constitute a Governing Council, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances, exclusion from minimum wage implementation, and inadequate funding as stipulated by the University’s founding law,” Dr. Joshua explained.
He added, “ASUU-TSU has consistently engaged with the government to resolve these pressing issues. However, the lack of commitment and action has left us with no choice but to take this step in defense of our members’ welfare, the integrity of the institution, and the future of higher education in Taraba State.”
The strike has left students in limbo, with many expressing frustration over their interrupted academic progress. Some were seen leaving campus with no indication of when classes or exams would resume.
One student, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “We are the ones paying the price for a crisis we didn’t create. It’s disheartening to see our education put on hold because of these unresolved issues.”
The impasse has sparked concern among parents and education stakeholders, who are calling for urgent intervention to resolve the crisis.
However, as of the latest update, no resolution has been reached, leaving the future of academic activities at TSU uncertain.
Students and lecturers alike are now waiting for the state government and university management to take decisive action to end the strike and restore normalcy to the institution.
Education
JUST IN: FG Dissolves Nnamdi Azikiwe University Governing Council, Removes VC
The Federal Government has dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and removed its newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Odoh, over alleged breaches of university laws and irregularities in his appointment.
This was announced on Wednesday by Folashade Boriowo, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.
In a statement, the Ministry accused the Governing Council of failing to follow due process in the appointment of Prof. Odoh, resulting in widespread tension and unrest within the university community.
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“The Federal Government has announced the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, following grave breaches of the laws governing the university and disregard for lawful directives from the Federal Ministry of Education,” the statement read.
The Federal Ministry of Education also revealed that the Council’s chairman had “unilaterally appointed a Vice-Chancellor who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria for the position,” leading to the breakdown of law and order on campus.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had earlier accused the Governing Council of misconduct and called for its dissolution.
The union alleged that the council’s actions undermined the institution’s integrity and violated established procedures.
Commenting on the government’s decision, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said urgent measures were necessary to restore stability to the university.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that urgent measures were needed to prevent further deterioration of the situation at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, as the illegal decisions taken by the Governing Council posed a significant risk of further destabilizing the institution,” the statement added.
The Ministry also announced plans to appoint an Acting Vice-Chancellor and constitute a new Governing Council for the university.
“In accordance with the university’s founding act, an Acting Vice-Chancellor will be appointed, and a new Governing Council for the university will be constituted as soon as possible to ensure proper governance and adherence to the law,” the statement concluded.





