Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has denied that his resignation from office was prompted by guilt, insisting that his decision to step down was made to protect his integrity and the reputation of the government.
Nnaji resigned on Tuesday, October 7, following mounting controversy over the authenticity of his academic certificates after a PREMIUM TIMES investigation revealed discrepancies in his claimed educational background.
According to the report, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) officially disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate in Nnaji’s possession. The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, confirmed that although Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he did not complete his studies and was never issued a certificate.
Responding to the development, Nnaji issued a personally signed statement, asserting that his resignation was not an admission of wrongdoing, but a principled choice aimed at preserving his lifelong reputation and allowing due process to take its course.
“After deep reflection and consultations with family, associates, and well-meaning Nigerians, I have today tendered my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” he wrote.
He described the allegations against him as politically motivated blackmail, saying they were designed to “tarnish his name and distract from the ministry’s ongoing work under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
“Over the past week, an orchestrated sustained campaign of falsehood, politically motivated, and malicious attacks have been waged against my person, integrity, and office across print, electronic, and social media platforms,” Nnaji said.
“These unfounded allegations and media distortions have not only caused personal distress but have also begun to distract from the vital work of the Ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”
“My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice — not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court,” he stated. “In the end, justice will prevail, and history will vindicate the just.”
Nnaji’s resignation follows weeks of scrutiny over his credentials, and his departure marks one of the most high-profile exits from President Tinubu’s cabinet since it was inaugurated