The Federal Government has closed down 18 foreign universities operating within the country, labelling them ‘degree mills.’
The affected institutions include five from the United States of America (USA), six from the United Kingdom (UK) and three from Ghana.
Also dubbed ‘unlicensed institutions’, the National Universities Commission (NUC), in a statement released on its website, revealed that these universities had not been licensed by Nigerian government and were shut down for violating the Education Minimum Standards, etc., Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Among the listed institutions were:
· University of Applied Sciences & Management in Port Novo, Republic of Benin
· Volta University College in Ho, Volta Region Ghana
· The International University of Missouri, USA, with Kano and Lagos study centres.
Following the Federal Ministry of Education’s temporary suspension of the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo, the FG noted that the crackdown comes amid global challenges related to institutions operating clandestinely, preying on unsuspecting individuals.
The education ministry emphasized its commitment to reviewing strategies, processes, and procedures to address these issues and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s education sector.
In response to the suspension, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the government to reconsider its decision, arguing that the suspension negatively affects legitimate students who have invested time and resources in their education in Benin Republic and Togo, urging a reassessment of the situation to avoid penalizing genuine students.FG Takes Swift Action Against Fake Degrees, Shuts 118 Foreign Varsity Campuses
