NIGERIA’S Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, has admitted that his first degree certificate from the University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka is forged. This has sparked outrage on and off the social media, with many Nigerians raising several questions as to why the Senate and the State Security Service (SSS) did not do due diligence during screening exercises.
The certificate scandal follows Premium Times’ two-year investigation that revealed that Mr Nnaji, a minister representing Enugu State in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, did not graduate in Microbiology/Biochemistry from UNN as he claimed.
The newspaper said it began investigating Mr Nnaji on October 2023 after President Tinubu had named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states.
It found that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and also forged the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he presented to President Tinubu, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the SSS, and the Senate.
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In the course of the investigation, Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Prof Simon U. Ortuanya, noted although Mr Nnaji was admitted to the institution in 1981, he did not gruaduate and was never awarded a degree. “We refer to your letter dated 29 September 2025 in respect of the above subject matter. We can confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with Matriculation Number 1981/30725, was admitted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1981,” the vice-chancellor wrote in response to Premium Times’ Freedom of Information request.
“From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology. This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter (copy attached).”
NYSC certificate forgery
Mr Nnaji’s NYSC certificate, dated 15 May 1986, had the signature of Animashaun Braimoh, who served as the fifth chief executive officer of the NYSC between January 1988 and December 1990. But the head of the NYSC at the time was not Mr Braimoh but Colonel Edet Akpan, who held the position between January 1984 and December 1987.
The newspaper reviewed at least 25 certificates issued by the NYSC between July 1980 and October 1990, finding that all of them were signed by a ‘director.’ However, only Mr Nnaji’s certificate was endorsed by a ‘national director.’
Mr Nnaji’s admission
In court filings in a case he instituted against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), the University of Nigeria, UNN’s vice-chancellor, its registrar, a former Acting Vice-Chancellor Oguenjiofor Ujam, and the Senate of the university, Mr Nnaji sought an order for a leave to issue prerogative writs prohibiting UNN and its officials from ‘tampering with’ or continuing to ‘tamper with’ his academic records.
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In paragraphs 12 and 13 of his 34-paragraph verifying affidavit supporting the motion, Mr Nnaji wrote, “That even though I am yet to collect my certificate from the 3rd Defendant (UNN), due largely to the non-cooperative attitude of the 3rd–5th Defendants (UNN, its Vice-Chancellor, and Registrar), the 3rd Defendant issued a letter dated 21st December 2023 to People’s Gazette (attention: Samuel Ogundipe) which stated amongst other things as follows:
‘This is to confirm that Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology/Biochemistry, Second Class (Hons.) Lower Division.”
Hence, Mr Nanji admitted that he had not collected his certificate from UNN since he purpotedly graduated in 1985.
Adeosun, others
Just recently, under President Muhammadu Buhari, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, was embroiled in certifiate scandal. In July 2018, a Premium Times report claimed that she forged her NYSC certificate. It turned out that the report was true and that the NYSC had no record confirming the authenticity of her certificate.
Similarly, Communications Minister under President Buhari, Mr Adebayo Shittu, did not participate in the NYSC. He said that he was elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly after his graduation from University of Ife ( now Obafemi Awolowo University), claiming that that election constituted a ‘higher service.’
Outrage unfolds
Several Nigerians have admitted that certificate forgery and scandal have been a common feature of Nigerian politicians, asking why Mr Nnaji did not present the bare minimum certificate, which is often the First Leaving School Certificate (FSLC), required by the law.
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“Why did he go for the degree certificate when the FSLC could have sufficed? I understand that no president would gladly hand over a ministry to a primary school certificate holder, but isn’t it more honourable to present what you have now than forge your certificate and face regrets in future?” asked an Abuja-based university lecturer, Dr Damian Enweonwu.
A human rights crusader, Ms Aisha Yesufu, wrote on her X handle, “Isn’t that one of the criteria that the illegitimate administration demand?”
Mr Morris Monye, an investor, also wrote on his X handle, “So we expect his immediate resignation and prosecution Yh? There has to be consequences for this.”
A natural scientist, Mr Usman Modibbo, wrote on X: “As a Honourable Minister, he deserves the honour of choosing where to serve his term, whether in Kuje or Kirikiri.”
