The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to rid both public and private Institutions in the Country of fake Certificate holders. This resolute stance was articulated by the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during the reception of the report from the Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling on Friday in Abuja.
The Federal Government, recognizing the severity of the issue, established an Inter-Ministerial Committee on January 9 to probe allegations of degrees racketeering within both foreign and local private universities. Chaired by Prof. Jubrila Amin, the Committee meeting was tasked with evaluating the role of any Ministry, Departments, Agencies, or their officials in the procurement of fake Certificates.
Expressing profound concern over the findings of the investigations, Prof. Mamman vowed to collaborate with relevant agencies to cleanse the Education sector of fraudulent practices. He emphasized that any Government official implicated in the scandal would face legal consequences, underscoring the necessity to uphold the integrity of the Education system.
“The prevalence of fake certificates tarnishes the credibility of our education sector. We cannot allow this trend to persist,” asserted Prof. Mamman. “It is disheartening to witness individuals with genuine potential resorting to fraudulent means to obtain qualifications they do not rightfully deserve. The Ministry is committed to implementing stringent measures to rectify this issue.”
During his earlier address, the Honourable Minister of State, Hon. Dr. Yusuf Tanko, acknowledged the challenges facing various sectors, including food security and national security. He lamented the unfortunate damage done to education security but expressed gratitude for the progress made in addressing these issues. Dr. Tanko emphasized the importance of education security, stating that its loss equates to losing everything, as education serves as the foundation for human and capital development. He cautioned against the risks associated with employing unqualified individuals and highlighted the commitment of both the minister and the president to rectifying past wrongs.
Presenting the report, Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee Prof. Jubrila Amin, highlighted the urgent need for intervention. Amin emphasized the imperative of digitizing and automating systems across Educational institutions to enhance monitoring and evaluation processes, advocating for a proactive approach to prevent recurrence of fraudulent practices.
“We have provided the Ministry with comprehensive recommendations to identify and address individuals presenting counterfeit qualifications. It is imperative that decisive action is taken to preserve the sanctity of our Education system.”
In her expression of gratitude, the Permanent Education, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, emphasized the need to address certificate milling and related activities. She expressed optimism that the submitted report will not merely gather dust but will be actively implemented to eradicate certificate milling. She extended gratitude to the Committee members, Directors of the Federal Ministry of Education and attendees She concluded by urging collective efforts to improve the education sector in each individual’s sphere of influence.
Folasade Boriowo
Director (Press & PR)
Ministry of Education
