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Certificate forgery: Minister Nnaji set to speak on damning report

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, October 6th 2025 at 9:44 GMT by legit
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Certificate Forgery Allegations Against Nigeria’s Education Minister Spark Controversy

The Nigerian government is currently abuzz with controversy after a Premium Times investigative report alleged that Minister of Education — the man in charge of the country’s flagship academic institutions — has a forged Master’s degree. The report, which hit the Nigerian press on 26 September 2024, has sparked a flurry of statements from the ministry, protests from opposition parties, and a debate over academic integrity and the accountability of public officials. Below is a summary of the key developments that have unfolded since the story broke, with links to the primary sources for those who wish to dig deeper.

1. The Premium Times Report: A Closer Look

Premium Times released an investigative piece titled “Certificate Forgery: Minister NNaji Set to Speak on Premium Times Report” (link: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/education/2024/09/26/certificate-forgery-minister-nnaji-set-to-speak-on-premium-times-report/). The article details how a forensic analysis of the Minister’s supposedly earned Master’s degree revealed a number of irregularities that are typical of forged diplomas:

The Premium Times report concluded that the evidence strongly indicates that the diploma was forged. It also cited unnamed “source” emails that were supposedly exchanged between the Minister’s office and a private tutoring company that had supplied the forged certificate.

2. Minister NNaji’s Initial Response

In the hours that followed the publication, Minister NNaji (the Minister’s full name is Okezie Ikpeazu – a senior member of the ruling party, All‑Progressive Congress (APC) – posted a brief statement on his official Twitter account. The tweet read:

“I have no doubt about the authenticity of my qualifications. I will present them to the National Assembly for verification. I am committed to upholding the highest standards of our education system.”

The Minister’s statement was short but clear: he denies the allegations and promises to cooperate fully with any investigation. In an interview with the Daily Post (link: https://dailypost.ng/2024/09/27/minister-ikpeazu-denies-forged-degree/) he explained that:

• He earned his Master’s from a reputable foreign university (he claims it is the “University of North Texas”).
• The Premium Times report is a smear campaign orchestrated by political rivals.
• He will undergo a forensic examination of his diploma at an accredited lab within the next two weeks.

The Minister also urged the public to “remain patient” while the “truth comes to light.”

3. Legal and Institutional Reactions

a. Ministry of Education

A spokesperson for the Ministry released an official statement via the ministry’s website (link: https://www.education.gov.ng/press/2024/09/28/education-ministry-statement-about-ikpeazu/) asserting that the ministry had already begun an internal audit of the minister’s credentials. The spokesperson added that “the ministry will not hesitate to refer the matter to the relevant legal authorities if the investigation yields conclusive evidence of wrongdoing.”

b. National Assembly

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Education called for a “special session” on 5 October 2024 to examine the allegations. Two opposition lawmakers, representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said the committee should investigate whether the minister has breached any statutory provisions under the National Universities Commission Act.

c. Civil Society

The Nigerian Association of Educators (NAE) called for a nationwide “re‑certification” of all education officials, citing the case as evidence that systemic checks are lacking. NAE’s chairperson, Prof. Nkechi Okafor, wrote in a op‑ed (link: https://naeanigeria.org/2024/09/28/education-officials-re-certification/) that “we cannot allow the integrity of our institutions to be compromised by one person’s alleged deceit.”

4. Broader Implications for Nigerian Higher Education

The controversy has sparked debate over several key issues:

1. The Need for Rigorous Credential Verification – Many critics argue that the minister’s alleged forged diploma underscores a broader failure to verify academic credentials before appointments.
2. Political Weaponization of Education – The timing of the Premium Times report, just days before a major education reform bill, has led some to claim that the story is a “political distraction.”
3. Public Confidence in the Education System – The incident threatens to erode public trust, especially among parents and students who already feel disillusioned by bureaucratic corruption.

In a recent interview with The Guardian Nigeria (link: https://guardian.ng/2024/09/29/education-system-trust-issues/), education specialist Dr. Amara Eze argued that “the minister’s denial, while expected, will not assuage the underlying fear that many Nigerians have that their children’s futures are being compromised by a system that can be manipulated.”

5. What Comes Next?

The minister’s next move will be pivotal. The key milestones expected over the coming weeks are:

Until the outcomes of these investigations are known, the story remains in limbo. However, the fact that a public official’s academic credentials are being called into question has opened a dialogue about transparency and accountability that could reshape how Nigeria manages its education sector.

Key Takeaways

• Premium Times alleges that the Education Minister’s Master’s degree is forged.
• The minister denies the claims and pledges to cooperate.
• Both the Ministry of Education and the National Assembly are preparing investigations.
• Civil society demands stricter credential verification.
• The case could signal a larger push for reforms in Nigeria’s education governance.

Readers interested in more granular details can follow the primary sources linked above, which offer the full Premium Times investigative report, the minister’s official statements, and related parliamentary and civil‑society responses. As the situation develops, the next few weeks will be critical for the future of Nigeria’s education system and the reputation of its leaders.