The Federal Government has suspended evaluation and accreditation of degrees from Benin and Togo Republics.

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

It added that the decision followed outcome of an investigation involving the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Education and two countries, as well the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The statement called on Nigerians to cooperate with the committee and provide useful information for lasting solution to the menace of Nigerians obtaining half-baked certificates from foreign universities.

It noted: “The issue of degree mill institutions, i.e., institutions that exist on paper or operate in clandestine manner outside the control of regulators, is a global problem that all countries grapple with.

“The FME has been contending with the problem, including illegal institutions located abroad, or at home, preying on unsuspecting Nigerians and some desperate Nigerians, who deliberately patronise such outlets.
“Periodically, warnings have been issued by the ministry and NUC against the resort to such institutions, and in some instances, reports made to security agencies to clamp down on the perpetrators. The ministry will continue to review its strategy to plug any loophole, process, procedure and deal decisively with any conniving official.
“The ministry has always adopted the global standard for evaluation and accreditation of certificates of all form, which relies on receipt of list of accredited courses and schools in all countries of the world.”

The blacklisted institutions include: University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study centres or any of its campuses in Nigeria; Collumbus University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria, Tiu International University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pebbles University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria; London External Studies UK operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pilgrims University operating anywhere in Nigeria; West African Christian University operating anywhere in Nigeria and EC-Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos study centre.

Others are: Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria; Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria; Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria; University of Education, Winneba Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri study centre, and Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.
Also, President Bola Tinubu has suspended Halima Shehu as National Coordinator and CEO, National Social Investment Programme Agency over alleged financial misappropriation.

With the suspension, Dr Akindele Egbuwalo, National N-POWER Programme Manager, has been appointed in an acting capacity as NC/CEO, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

The suspension comes about three months after her confirmation by the Senate.

Before Halima’s appointment, she worked as National Coordinator of Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and previously served under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development between 2017 and 2022.

In a related development, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), yesterday, called for transparency and accountability in the N100 billion school feeding programme for this year.
In a statement, the group stressed the need for transparency and accountability in government programmes, especially those targeting welfare of vulnerable populations.

Stating that the 2024 budget, named ‘Renewed Hope’, and which reduced recurrent expenditure and increased capital expenditure, HURIWA cautiously expressed optimism about government’s commitment to prudent financial management.

It, however, urged government to learn from lapses of previous school feeding initiatives, marred by financial irregularities and lack of accountability.

Issued by the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the rights group deplored the recurrent “financial malfeasance associated with erstwhile President Buhari’s Humanitarian Services ministry.”

Besides, Minister of Education, Prof. Mamman Tahir, has said the current administration is committed to re-jigging and re-setting the education sector to make graduates self-reliant.

Fielding questions from journalists yesterday in Yola after inspection tour of one of the junior secondary vocational schools in General Murtala Mohammed College, he said to tackle the unemployment crisis, vocational education must be returned with special attention by government.

The minister said the new policy would secure future of youths and enable them to securitise their future by having sustainable incomes and life skills.

Tahir stated that for Nigerian youths to be self-reliant, they needed to combine quality education with skills to achieve sustainable goals.

Besides, men of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) flooded the Maitama office of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), shortly after reports of alleged suspension of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and National Coordinator, Halima Shehu, over alleged financial irregularities.

The Guardian observed heavy presence of EFCC officials positioned outside and inside the office.

Access to the office, located on Taraba Close, in Maitama, was also restricted, as no one was allowed in or out of the building, except those on special duties.

Shehu, alongside her key officers, including media aides, was not allowed to leave their offices.