Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Uche Nnaji, faces growing calls to resign following revelations in court documents that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a bachelor’s degree, despite his claims of graduating in 1985.
The admission has fuelled accusations of certificate forgery in the credentials he submitted during his 2023 ministerial screening, intensifying scrutiny on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In an affidavit filed before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nnaji stated he was admitted to UNN in 1981 for Microbiology/Biochemistry but confessed he “never collected” his certificate, attributing delays to university officials’ “non-cooperation.”
UNN Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Ortuanya confirmed in an October 3 letter that Nnaji “did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree,” contradicting an earlier 2023 university statement.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has also disowned Nnaji’s discharge certificate, stating no records exist. Nnaji’s suit seeks to protect his academic records and compel a transcript release; the court granted partial orders but adjourned the case to October 6.
The scandal draws parallels to past cases, such as former Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun’s 2018 resignation over a forged NYSC exemption certificate, highlighting ongoing challenges in verifying public officials’ qualifications.