FG Debunks Claims Of 2,000 Universities, 100 Fake Professors In Nigeria
FG Debunks Claims Of 2,000 Universities, 100 Fake Professors In Nigeria
The Federal Government has dismissed viral reports claiming that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities and uncovered about 100 fake professors in Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Education described the claims as false and misleading, saying the commission never made such declarations or authenticated the lists circulating on social media.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the NUC had neither declared the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria nor published or endorsed the purported list of individuals being described as fake professors.
The ministry explained that the allegation about fake professors was 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.
It said the original report did not contain the names currently circulating online, adding that the commission had disowned the list.
The ministry expressed concern over what it described as the persistent recycling of misinformation, warning that such claims could undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and efforts to improve the education sector.Buy Maps
It urged members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the fabricated reports and verify information about recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the commission in safeguarding academic integrity, strengthening quality assurance and protecting the credibility of Nigeria’s university education system.
The statement was signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.
