The Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, is embroiled in a certificate forgery scandal. His spokesperson, Robert Ngwu, has accused the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), of playing politics with Nnaji’s certificate.
This comes after the UNN management disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate Nnaji submitted to the Senate during his screening in 2023.
Nnaji’s certificate controversy began when the UNN management revealed that he did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree. Ngwu claims the university is tampering with Nnaji’s files, alleging that the Vice Chancellor is a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “The file of a student has no business in the Vice Chancellor’s office,” Ngwu said. He believes the forgery allegation against Nnaji is politically motivated, citing the PDP’s history of discrediting politicians who challenge their control in Enugu State.
The UNN has been accused of manipulating Nnaji’s academic files. Ngwu claims the university is holding onto Nnaji’s academic transcript despite his applying for it and paying the required fee. “The minister is jittery because we know this is political, and we know how illegal politics is,” Ngwu added. Nnaji has sought the protection of the court, warning the school to stop tampering with his academic files.
In a court affidavit, Nnaji admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate, and he “never collected one.” The university confirmed this in a letter dated October 2, 2025, stating that Nnaji did not graduate. Despite this, Ngwu insists Nnaji graduated from UNN in 1985, citing a letter from the university’s Registrar in December 2023.
The Enugu State Government has denied any involvement in the controversy. Chukwuemeka Nebo, Director of Information in the Ministry of Information and Communication, said Nnaji should clear his name instead of dragging the state into his personal troubles. “The honourable minister must carry his own cross and clear his name before Nigerians,” Nebo said.
The scandal has sparked heated debates, with many questioning the authenticity of Nnaji’s certificates. As the court case continues, Nnaji’s reputation hangs in the balance. The UNN’s Vice-Chancellor has been accused of bias, and the PDP’s alleged involvement in the scandal has raised eyebrows.
