The controversy surrounding the academic credentials of Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, has taken a new turn after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), denied issuing him a degree certificate.
In a formal response to a Freedom of Information request, UNN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, stated that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he never completed his studies and therefore could not have graduated.
The University flatly described the purported certificate as non-existent in its records.
This revelation is not just about one minister. It reopens a troubling chapter in Nigeria’s governance: the recurring question of fake degrees, questionable credentials, and a culture of impunity among political elites.
From local government officials to top lawmakers, and now a sitting minister, allegations of certificate forgery have become a recurring theme in Nigerian politics. Each scandal chips away at public confidence in leadership, casting doubt on the transparency of the vetting process that should safeguard the integrity of public office.
For President Bola Tinubu, who already faces scrutiny over past controversies surrounding his own academic records, the Nnaji case could intensify demands for stricter accountability in the selection and screening of cabinet members.
More importantly, the scandal underscores a deeper systemic failure — where institutions tasked with verification are often bypassed, and where questions about integrity are brushed aside until public pressure forces them to the surface.
With UNN’s denial now on record, Nnaji’s future in the cabinet is uncertain. But beyond his fate, Nigerians are once again left grappling with the larger question: Why does the nation keep recycling leaders whose credentials cannot withstand scrutiny?