Umar Audu, an investigative journalist who exposed degree mill certificate racketeering in the Benin Republic, has been granted a 10-year security protection by the House of Representatives.
The Nigerian government, particularly the Ministry of Education, is involved in the fraudulent clearance of many of the university certificates that Audu’s undercover investigation exposed as having been purchased by unsuspecting Nigerians.
Senate and House subcommittees on education, foreign policy, and youth development are reportedly looking into the matter at the moment (NAAN).
Legislator Abubakar Fulata, who chairs the committee, made the announcement and urged the Nigerian police and other security agencies, such as the NSCDC, to keep Audu safe over the upcoming decade.
Audu, for your bravery, has our gratitude. In addition to the police, Fulata emphasized that the Minister of the Interior should make sure that the Civil Defence provide the necessary support.
Audu explained to the committee in his evidence how he paid ₦40,000 to the Ministry of Education to get a degree from a university in the Benin Republic without ever having to set foot in a classroom.
In light of the findings, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of the Interior, called for the establishment of a centralized automated system to verify educational credentials and eradicate this type of fraud.
Under this government, there was no such mistake. While apologizing to Nigerians for the lapses, Tunji-Ojo stated that a uniform automated platform is vital to control this scourge. Mrs. Larai Ahmed, a director in the ministry, represented Mr. Olatunji Alausa, the minister of education.
According to Alausa, the division in charge of approving Audu’s certificate has been restructured, and more stringent safeguards are in place to avoid such incidents in the future.
The New York State Service Corps (NYSC) has started employing biometric verification to confirm certificates presented by prospective members, according to Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, who also appeared before the committee.
We are working with the appropriate authorities and sincerely apologize for the anomaly.
According to Nafiu, “we have initiated reforms to prevent any recurrence,” and the verification mechanism has been strengthened.
In order to protect the credibility of Nigeria’s public service and educational systems, the House committee has pledged to conduct a comprehensive investigation and implement necessary reforms.