Nigeria plans to extend sanctions on the accreditation and evaluation of university degrees from Uganda, Kenya, and Niger Republic, following the blacklisting of 18 foreign universities from Benin Republic and Togo.
In a move to curb the issuance of fake academic degrees, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Prof Tahi Mamman, expressed concern about institutions in Kenya, Uganda, and Niger Republic issuing certificates without physical addresses, making them challenging to trace.
“We are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda, Kenya, even Niger here where such institutions have been set up,” he announced.
These sanctions stem from an investigative journalist’s exposure of acquiring a degree from a Benin Republic university in less than 60 days, subsequently using it for deployment in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
While the Nigerian government alleges that institutions in Kenya, Uganda, and Niger are involved in the issuance of unlawful degree certificates, no concrete proof has been provided.
Despite lacking evidence, these allegations resonate with Kenyans due to past instances where public officials faced scrutiny over the authenticity of their academic qualifications.
According to the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), approximately one out of three employed individuals in Kenya possesses a fake academic certificate, affecting about 30% of the civil service workforce.
In response to these concerns, the KNQA, established in 2015, has been working to ensure that individuals seeking higher education opportunities or employment in Kenya meet required standards and certifications.
Following these revelations, both the Public Service Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission have directed state and private employers to conduct audits on employees’ academic qualifications from the past decade to ensure accountability.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
