President Bola Tinubu has instructed key education regulatory bodies to intensify their efforts in shutting down unauthorized tertiary institutions operating across the country.
Delivering his message at the 14th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja on Saturday, the President—represented by Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education—called on the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and other relevant agencies to take firm action against what he termed “certificate millers” damaging the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
He emphasized that the integrity of the nation’s academic institutions must be preserved at all costs.
“This administration remains firmly committed to enhancing collaboration among all education agencies to ensure greater efficiency and quality across the sector,” Tinubu said.
He noted that bodies like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), NUC, NBTE, and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) are already working in sync to combat forgery and eliminate recognition of fake institutions, both locally and internationally.
“I urge the leadership of these agencies to stay resolute in enforcing the government’s mandate to cleanse our education sector of fraudulent and unaccredited institutions. The integrity of our academic system must be protected, and certificate racketeering must be brought to a permanent end,” he said.
During the convocation, 51 inmates from correctional facilities nationwide graduated from NOUN, comprising 41 undergraduates and 10 postgraduates.
The event also saw the conferment of honorary degrees on Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, and Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
President Tinubu also charged NOUN to play a key role in driving Nigeria’s transition to a digitally skilled economy. He urged the university to fully embrace online education in line with its Open and Distance Learning (ODL) framework.