Examination boards in Kenya and Uganda are now verifying the records of Nigerian candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions in their countries. This development comes amid concerns about fake degrees and certificate racketeering.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Nigeria has confirmed that it will not falsify records of any students. The move is aimed at protecting Nigeria’s tertiary education from disrepute.
This comes after the Federal Government suspended the verification of degree certificates from Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, Togo, and other countries over allegations of certificate racketeering. An investigative report had exposed the activities of fake degree mills in these countries, leading to the Nigerian government’s decision to probe the activities of certificate racketeers.
The Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee on Degree Certificate Milling has recommended that universities in Nigeria conduct admissions via the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and submit matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education. The aim is to combat fake degree mills and racketeers in the country.
In a related development, the Federal Government has mandated all higher institutions in Nigeria to submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education not later than three months after matriculation ceremonies. The list must be submitted through the dedicated channel of JAMB.
The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to combat fake degree mills and racketeers in the country. Holders of fake degrees from Nigerian and foreign universities will be flushed out of the system, according to the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman.