Examination boards in Kenya and Uganda have begun verifying the Academic records of Nigerian candidates seeking admission into their tertiary institutions. This initiative follows concerns over the integrity of degrees obtained from certain West African countries, including Nigeria.
This was confirmed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in a document for the 2024 policy meeting.
JAMB, however, emphasized its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s educational reputation by ensuring the authenticity of student records.
The development coincides with the Nigerian Federal Government’s suspension of degree certificate verification from countries like Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, and Togo. The suspension was prompted by allegations of certificate racketeering, particularly after an investigative report by Daily Nigerian exposed the activities of fake degree mills in Benin Republic.
Responsively, the Nigerian government established an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling. The committee’s findings led to a ban on the accreditation and evaluation of degrees from certain West African countries, and recommendations to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, announced that holders of fake degrees from both Nigerian and foreign universities would be identified and removed from the system. Additionally, Nigerian universities are now required to conduct admissions through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education within three months of matriculation ceremonies.
The verification requests from Kenya and Uganda highlights the growing international scrutiny of academic credentials issued in Nigeria and other West African countries. The Nigerian government’s crackdown on fake degrees aims to restore confidence in the country’s education system, both domestically and abroad
