Uganda and Kenya Urge JAMB to Verify Students Amid Fake Certificates
The Federal Government has recently suspended the verification of degree certificates from Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, Togo, and several other countries due to allegations of certificate racketeering.
This decision follows cases of fraudulent certifications detected by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), prompting examination boards in Kenya and Uganda to contact Nigeria for verification of records submitted by Nigerian candidates applying for admission in their institutions.
In a report titled ‘Registrar’s Report on 2023 ADMISSION & 2024 UTME Policy Meeting,’ JAMB emphasized the importance of safeguarding Nigeria’s tertiary institutions from international disrepute and reiterated its commitment not to falsify any student records.
The government’s action was influenced by an investigation by Daily Nigeria reporter Umar Audu, who revealed how he obtained a degree in just six weeks from the Benin Republic.
This prompted the establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling to investigate the activities of certificate racketeers.
JAMB has warned higher institutions that they will face sanctions if they do not submit their lists of admitted students immediately following matriculation.
Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, stated that this initiative stems from a committee formed by the Federal Government to address the issue of fake degree racketeering in Nigeria.
A report obtained by Channels Television titled ‘CLARIFICATION ON DISCLOSURE OF ADMITTED CANDIDATES OUTSIDE CAPS (2017-DATE)’ mandates institutions to submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education within three months after matriculation ceremonies through JAMB’s dedicated channel.
The Board noted a surge of candidates visiting its offices to resolve issues related to candidates admitted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) since 2017.
While the Board appreciates this enthusiasm, it emphasizes that the responsibility lies with institutions to disclose all candidates admitted outside CAPS by the August 31, 2024 deadline.
Institutions must prioritize this directive, as non-compliance will have severe consequences. Candidates are also reminded not to accept admissions outside CAPS. The Board will not entertain any undisclosed candidates going forward.
In a related matter, a memo from the education ministry on July 15, 2024, referenced allegations of certificate racketeering involving some foreign institutions, particularly in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Consequently, an inter-ministerial committee was established to investigate these claims, and its recommendations have been approved by the Honourable Minister of Education for implementation.
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The minister’s requests include enforcing that all tertiary institutions in Nigeria conduct admissions exclusively through the Central Admissions Processing System, and regularly submit matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education via JAMB within three months of ceremonies.
Institutions are urged to implement these recommendations and provide updates to the ministry.
Recently, Channels Television reported that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has demobilized 54 corps members who were illegally mobilized by the University of Calabar. This adds to the 101 certificates previously voided, totaling 178.
In light of these developments, Minister of Education Tahir Mamman has pledged to remove holders of fraudulent degrees from Nigeria’s educational system.
