Scholars Dismiss Education Minister’s Claim About Fake Certificates From Universities In The Republic Of Benin, Togo.
By Adewale Owoade
Recently, the Nigerian Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced that degrees earned from universities in the Republics of Benin and Togo would be void.
This announcement has raised serious concerns among students, parents, and educational institutions.
In a statement released and signed by Gabriel Kona, an education consultant and president of Nigerian Lecturers in Benin, on behalf of stakeholders criticize the minister’s action, calling it false and misleading information that does not accurately portray these universities or the certificates they award.
The minister’s announcement followed a report from a Nigerian investigative journalist that revealed the existence of a racketeering network that facilitated the acquisition of a certificate from ESGT University in Benin Republic.
This report raised concerns about the validity of these certificates and led to a broader inquiry by the Nigerian government.
Premised on this, the Nigerian education minister stated that only five universities in Benin and three in Togo are accredited to award degrees, and that degrees obtained from other institutions in these countries are invalid, throwing a lot of past and present students in turmoil, thus threatening their academic and vocational pursuit.
“However, a thorough investigation and contact with the official site and office of the ministry of education in Benin and Togo republics into the validity of these claims has revealed significant inaccuracies in the minister’s statement.
“The Ministry of Higher Education in the Republic of Benin has officially published a list of 95 accredited institutions authorized to award Licence (Bachelor degrees). Here is the link…
https://enseignementsuperieur.gouv.bj/actualite/show/ACT-rzmG4X2a-870FE0A,” the statement reads.
The release reads further: “This list includes a wide range of private and public universities that are fully recognized and accredited by the Beninese government. The claim that only five universities in Benin are accredited is therefore incorrect and misleading.”
Similarly, the Republic of Togo has accredited several universities, contrary to the minister’s statement that only three are recognized. The misinformation provided by the Nigerian Minister of Education has caused unnecessary panic and distress among students and parents, many of whom have invested significant resources in their education abroad.
Mr Kona further stressed that “in Benin Republic, all private universities are called “EPES” (Ecole Privée d’Enseignement Supérieur), which means Private School of Higher Learning in English.
All EPES are duly authorized to run Licence (Bachelor) and Master Degree Programs; and all accredited EPES are published in a Handbook tagged “Guide d’orientation” in English “Orientation Guide” every year. (downloadable at https://enseignementsuperieur.gouv.bj/actualite/show/ACT-rzmG4X2a-870FE0A).
This list of accredited schools are also forwarded to the Nigeria Embassy in Cotonou and the Federal Ministry of Education so that students can verify if their schools of interest are accredited or not.
For international students like Nigerians, the basic entry requirements are O’Level Result (including Mathematics & English);
