Abuja releases full list of foreign varsities banned, after journalist’s expose
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Abuja has released a list of 18 foreign universities banned from operating in Nigeria, in a following up reaction to the embarrassing expose of a journalist who posed undercover to obtain a degree from a university in Benin Republic in six weeks and then participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) undetected.
Daily Nigerian reporter Umar Audu disclosed he paid N600,000 to obtain the degree from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
To obtain a degree in Nigeria, one has to spend at least three years in the university through a direct entry with a General Certificate Advanced Level (GCE A/L) result or National Certificate of Education (NCE) or Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or any equivalent qualification.
A student admitted with General Certificate Ordinary Level (GCE O/L) or West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) result has to spend four years or more to obtain a university degree, depending on the course of study.
By law, a Nigerian who graduated at age 30 or below must participate in the NYSC unless exempted for a reason spelt out in the NYSC Act, and must obtain an exemption certificate from the NYSC.
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Chairman Musa Aliyu met with Audu on Tuesday to get more details of how the fraud he exposed is being perpetrated.
The federal government had first reacted to the stunning scam by suspending accreditation of all certificates issued by universities in Benin and Togo.
A statement issued by Augustina Obilor-Duru for Director Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education acknowledged the work of the journalist in arriving at the decision to suspend accreditation of certificates from such universities.
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to the commendable work of investigative journalism that led to the publication by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper dated 30th December 2023 titled ‘UNDERCOVER: How DAILY NIGERIAN reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC scheme.’ This was also carried in various social media,” the statement said.
She explained the report gave credence to the suspicion that “some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.”
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List of foreign universities banned
Beyond the suspension of the accreditation of certificates from Benin and Togo, the National Universities Commission (NUC) website listed foreign universities banned as follows:
1. University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
2. Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
3. The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
4. Collumbus University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
5. Tiu International University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
6. Pebbles University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
7. London External Studies UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
8. Pilgrims University operating anywhere in Nigeria.
9. West African Christian University operating anywhere in Nigeria.
10. EC-Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos Study Centre.
11. Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
12. Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria.
13. Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
14. University of Education, Winneba Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
15. Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
16. African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
17. Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre.
18. Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.