Get Guardian on GoogleThe Federal Government has dismissed viral reports alleging that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities and uncovered about 100 fake professors in Nigeria, describing the claims as false and misleading.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the NUC had neither declared the existence of 2,000 universities in the country nor published, endorsed, or authenticated the list of individuals circulating on social media as fake professors.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry said the claims were recycled misinformation intended to mislead the public and undermine confidence in Nigeria’s university system.
According to the statement, the allegation concerning fake professors was a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, about an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.
It insisted that “the original report did not contain the names currently being circulated, which the Commission has since disowned.”
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, categorically states that the NUC has never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria or published, endorsed or authenticated the purported list of individuals circulating online as fake professors.
“The Ministry clarifies that the allegation concerning fake professors is a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, concerning an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities. The original report did not contain the names currently being circulated, which the Commission has since disowned,” the statement reads.
The statement added that the Commission had never issued any declaration identifying 2,000 universities in Nigeria or authenticated the purported list of fake professors.
Expressing concern over the persistent circulation of the claims, the ministry said they were “calculated to undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector, particularly the university system.”
It urged members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the reports and verify information concerning recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to supporting the NUC in safeguarding academic integrity, strengthening quality assurance and protecting the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university education system,” the statement added.
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