The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed appreciation for the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates obtained from institutions in Benin Republic and Togo.
The student body commended the government’s swift action and, in response, urged the extension of such sanctions to tertiary institutions within Nigeria offering unaccredited courses.
The statement, signed by NANS’ National Senate President, Elvis Ekundina, emphasized the need for the government to investigate the activities of key agencies involved in the fraudulent acquisition of degree certificates from foreign universities.
Specifically, Ekundina mentioned the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and other entities implicated in these activities.
While acknowledging the government’s prompt response, NANS urged further scrutiny to address the root causes of such fraudulent practices. The student body emphasized that a thorough investigation into relevant agencies was crucial for restoring the country’s reputation and credibility.
Ekundina also called on the government to extend its focus to tertiary institutions within Nigeria, particularly private institutions offering courses without proper accreditation. He described these institutions as “illegal” and stressed the need for appropriate measures to be taken against them.
NANS expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Federal Government and other student bodies in eliminating what it described as “illegal” tertiary institutions. The aim is to contribute to the repositioning of the education sector and ensure that students are not deceived into pursuing courses from unaccredited institutions.
This call from NANS underscores the broader concern about the quality and credibility of educational offerings within Nigeria, both from foreign institutions and those domestically operating without proper accreditation. The government’s collaboration with student bodies is seen as a potential step towards addressing these issues and strengthening the education sector.
