As Nigeria launches a sweeping crackdown on academic fraud, critics argue the government must first confront allegations surrounding its highest officeholder President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose Chicago State University certificate has been mired in forgery claims.
On August 8, 2025, the federal government issued a directive mandating all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and military and paramilitary formations to verify staff academic credentials starting October 6. This move follows growing concerns over fake certificates eroding educational integrity nationwide.
At the center of this reform is the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD), a centralized digital platform designed to authenticate academic records and preserve educational outputs. The initiative includes the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), which will issue unique National Credential Numbers (NCNs) and security codes for verified documents.
Under the new system, no employment will be confirmed without NCVS clearance. Institutions must submit annual compliance reports by March 30, and enforcement will be overseen by NERD, backed by Section 10(1) of the Education Act of 1985.
While officials hail the policy as a safeguard for future generations, analysts warn of potential mass job losses, especially in education and public service sectors. The Bureau of Public Service Reforms estimates Nigeria has over 720,000 federal civil servants.
The urgency of reform is underscored by past scandals: 22,700 fake certificates from Benin and Togo were invalidated in 2024; NECO dismissed 89 staff in 2020 for forged documents; and JAMB uncovered 3,000 fake graduates in 2024. ICPC convictions and FRSC prosecutions further highlight the scale of the problem.
Yet, Nigerians argue that the government’s credibility hinges on addressing the unresolved controversy surrounding President Tinubu’s academic records. Allegations of forgery date back to 1999 and resurfaced during the 2023 elections, when discrepancies in Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate including mismatched dates, logos, and gender markers were exposed through a U.S. court order.
A U.S. law firm is now reportedly preparing a legal mandamus to compel CSU to revoke Tinubu’s certificate, citing forged high school records from a school established after the claimed graduation date.
As Nigeria tightens its grip on academic fraud, many ask: can a government truly fight forgery if it won’t confront the allegations against its own president?
