President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that the integrity of Nigeria’s academic system must not be compromised, as he ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegal tertiary institutions operating across the country.
Speaking at the 14th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja on Saturday, the President—represented by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Rakiya Ilyasu—described such institutions as “certificate millers” and warned that their activities must be brought to an end.
“I therefore charge the heads of these agencies to remain steadfast in upholding the government’s resolution to safeguard our education sector from quack and fake institutions as the integrity of our academic system must not be compromised,” he said.
He directed key education regulatory bodies including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to intensify efforts in collaboration with JAMB and NYSC to detect and shut down fake institutions, both within and outside the country.
“Our agencies must ensure that cases of forgery and unrecognised institutions have no place in our education ecosystem,” Tinubu added.
The President further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to integrating and strengthening the roles of all educational agencies for improved efficiency and higher standards.
During the convocation, 51 inmates from correctional centres across Nigeria graduated from NOUN, comprising 41 undergraduates and 10 postgraduates, reflecting the institution’s commitment to inclusive and rehabilitative education.
Also honoured at the ceremony were Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, and Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who both received honorary degrees.
Tinubu also urged NOUN to lead the country’s transition into a digitally driven economy by fully embracing online learning in alignment with its Open and Distance Learning model.
