Former Senator Appeals for Compassionate Approach to Fake Degree Holders from Benin Republic

• Former Senator Shehu Sani has raised concerns about the impact of the Federal Government's mass sacking of individuals holding fake certificates from Benin Republic and Togo
• He appealed to the government to reconsider the decision and provide a path for these individuals to obtain a Nigerian degree through the open university system
• This measure follows revelations by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who reported that over 22,500 Nigerians obtained counterfeit certificates from unaccredited institutions in Benin Republic and Togo between 2019 and 2023

Former Senator and public analyst Shehu Sani has voiced his concerns regarding the impact of this mass sacking on individuals who had built their lives around these qualifications.

Taking to X, Sani stated:

"Thousands of guys who graduated from the Benin Republic universities, got jobs and married with kids are the ones hardest hit with this mass sacking by the FG. I appeal to the Government to reconsider the sacking by creating an opening for them to make up with a Nigerian degree through the open university system."

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The Federal Government was reported to have taken decisive action against individuals holding fake certificates from unaccredited universities in Benin Republic and Togo, leading to the termination of employment.

Shehu Sani appeals

This measure follows revelations by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who reported in August that between 2019 and 2023, a staggering 21,600 Nigerians obtained counterfeit certificates from unaccredited institutions in Benin Republic, while 1,105 did so in Togo.

The crackdown on fake degrees has brought to light the activities of degree mills, which have been a topic of concern following an investigative report by Umar Audu, a journalist with the Daily Nigerian newspaper.

Audu's report detailed how he obtained a degree within six weeks from an institution in Benin Republic and subsequently participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in Nigeria, showing the ease with which these fraudulent qualifications can be acquired.

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See Shehu Sani's X post below:

9 Universities Under Investigations

Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that in the wake of the viral undercover investigation which exposed a university issuing fake certificates in Cotonou, Benin Republic, the Nigerian government has taken steps to sanitise the nation's tertiary education sector.

On Tuesday, January 2, the Federal Ministry of Education suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from the Republic of Benin and Togo.

Source: Legit.ng