Monday October 6, 2025
By TheNewsDESK |
The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, has disowned the certificate of the Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, following a two-year investigation, raising questions about his academic credentials. The university stated that the minister did not complete his studies and was not awarded a degree.
A controversy surrounding the academic credentials of the Nigerian Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has escalated with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, disowning the certificate he claimed to have obtained. This development validates the findings of a two-year investigation conducted by various media outlets.
The university’s stance, communicated in a letter dated October 2, aligns with previous inquiries from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which also found the minister’s certificate of national service unauthentic.
The situation has unveiled inconsistencies and contradictions in official statements, further fueling the debate around the minister’s academic background. The unfolding events cast a shadow on the integrity of public officials and the verification processes within Nigerian institutions.
The unfolding saga began with discrepancies in the information provided by the university regarding Mr. Nnaji’s graduation. Initially, the university registrar reportedly told a newspaper that Mr. Nnaji graduated in July 1985.
However, the official subsequently recanted this statement in a letter to the Public Complaints Commission, stating that a search of graduation records for that year yielded no record of Mr. Nnaji’s name.
The recent communication from UNN, including letters signed by the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar, unequivocally states that Mr. Nnaji did not complete his studies and was not awarded a degree from the institution. The university’s official statement detailed that although Mr. Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there is no record of his completion of study or graduation. The official statement explicitly states that the University did not issue the certificate in question.
This definitive response follows earlier inquiries from the NYSC, which had also raised concerns about the authenticity of the minister’s national service certificate.
These developments raise significant questions about the veracity of the minister’s claims and the transparency of the verification processes.
The university’s official response, along with the previous concerns raised by the NYSC, presents a compelling case for further investigation into the minister’s academic background and the circumstances surrounding the alleged falsification of credentials. The investigation underscores the importance of verifying information and ensuring accountability within the government.
The documents included in the official statements, such as the letters from the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, serve as crucial evidence. Further, the public’s scrutiny is essential for upholding integrity within public service and ensuring that the government is held accountable for its actions.
The university is firm, with the Vice-Chancellor’s office confirming the same, and the Registrar has recanted previous assertions, underlining the seriousness of the situation.
This matter has implications that go beyond individual claims and could potentially undermine public trust in the government and educational institutions. It is a matter which needs to be further investigated. \In the latest communication, the university explicitly stated that they are unable to confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985.
Their response to the Freedom of Information request and also their reply to the Public Complaints Commission, both mirror the outcome of a two-year investigation. In summary, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate to Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji
