In their quest to make education better and fight the irregularities that have engulfed the education system in Nigeria by most foreign universities. 

The Federal Government has announced the suspension of evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the neighboring Benin Republic and Togo.

The suspension followed an investigative report by an online newspaper, which unraveled a Cotonou-based University, which issued a degree certificate to an undercover Journalist within six weeks.

In a statement on Tuesday, signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru on behalf of the Director Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, the federal government lamented that “some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.”

The government said the suspension will remain in place pending the outcome of an investigation involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education of Nigeria and the two countries as well as the Department of State Security Services (DSS), and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

The Ministry, therefore, called on the general public to support its efforts, show understanding and provide useful information that will assist the Committee in finding lasting solutions in order to prevent further occurrence.

This report lends credence to suspicions that some Nigerians deploy nefarious means and unconscionable methods to get a Degree with the end objective of getting graduate job opportunities for which they are not qualified.

Suspending an institution’s ability to award academic degrees is a very serious action, typically reserved for extreme situations. The federal government will usually exhaust other corrective measures before taking such a step.

Reasons

Here are 10 potential reasons, with the understanding that specific justifications will vary depending on the country and its regulatory framework:

Widespread and systemic academic fraud: This could involve mass cheating, plagiarism, fabricated credentials of faculty or administrators, or deliberate manipulation of student grades.

Failure to meet minimum academic standards: If an institution consistently falls below accepted benchmarks for coursework, faculty qualifications, or student outcomes, it may lose its degree-granting authority.

Financial mismanagement and insolvency: An institution operating under severe financial duress with no clear path to recovery might be deemed incapable of delivering quality education and have its degree awarding powers suspended.

Safety and security concerns: Repeated incidents of violence, harassment, or discrimination on campus that go unaddressed by the institution could lead to suspension of its degree-granting authority.

Non-compliance with regulations: Blatant disregard for government regulations, accreditation standards, or licensing requirements might result in suspension of the institution’s right to award degrees.

Misrepresentation and deceptive practices: Intentionally misleading students about program offerings, faculty qualifications, or job placement statistics could trigger suspension.

Exploitative and predatory practices: Engaging in predatory recruitment tactics, charging exorbitant fees, or providing fraudulent financial aid options could lead to suspension.

Promoting harmful ideologies or activities: Actively promoting discrimination, hate speech, or violent extremism might result in suspension.

Interference with academic freedom: If the institution engages in censorship, suppresses dissent, or unduly restricts research freedom, it could face suspension.

Foreign influence and national security concerns: If the institution is found to be under undue influence from foreign entities or engaging in activities that compromise national security, its degree-awarding powers could be suspended.

It’s important to note that suspensions may be usually temporary, with the aim of providing the institution with an opportunity to rectify the situation and demonstrate compliance with regulations. However, repeated failures or egregious violations could lead to permanent revocation of the institution’s degree-granting authority.