International Concern Grows Over Fake Nigerian Certificates: Uganda, Kenya Request Verification

In response to the increasing concerns over fake certifications, examination boards in Uganda and Kenya have officially requested the Nigerian government to verify academic records presented by Nigerian students seeking admission into their tertiary institutions. This development follows a series of fake certificates detected by Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The request was revealed in a document titled “Registrar’s Report on 2023 Admission & 2024 UTME Policy Meeting,” which was obtained yesterday. The report highlighted the urgency for Nigeria to protect the integrity of its tertiary education system on the global stage. JAMB assured that it would not falsify any student records, emphasizing the importance of maintaining transparency and credibility.

“Uganda and Kenya examination boards are now writing to JAMB to confirm records presented by candidates for admission. JAMB would not falsify record,” the board stated.

This move comes in the wake of the Nigerian government’s recent suspension of degree certificate verification from several countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, and Togo, due to widespread concerns over certificate racketeering. The suspension followed an investigative report by Umar Audu of Daily Nigeria, who managed to obtain a degree from the Benin Republic within six weeks, prompting the government to launch a probe into the matter.

As part of the broader effort to combat this issue, JAMB has warned that it will take action against Nigerian institutions that fail to promptly submit the list of admitted students following matriculation. The board’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, stated that this initiative is one of the key recommendations from the government’s inter-ministerial committee set up to address the proliferation of fake degrees.

JAMB further clarified that institutions must regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education within three months of matriculation ceremonies, through the channels provided by JAMB. The board emphasized that any institution failing to comply by the August 31, 2024, deadline will face severe consequences. It also reminded candidates not to accept admissions that are not processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

In a related memo addressed to JAMB on July 15, 2024, the Ministry of Education reiterated the mandatory requirements for all Nigerian tertiary institutions to conduct their admissions exclusively through CAPS. This directive, approved by the Minister of Education, is part of the measures aimed at curbing the rise in fake certificate racketeering and ensuring the authenticity of academic qualifications from Nigerian institutions.