The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed as false and misleading, viral reports alleging that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities and uncovered about 100 fake professors in Nigeria.
The ministry described the reports as recycled misinformation intended to mislead the public and discredit the nation’s university system.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, in a statement, stated that the NUC has never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria, 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 ministry said that the original report did not contain the names currently being circulated, which the NUC has since disowned.
The Ministry expressed concern over the persistent recycling of these false claims, which are calculated to undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector, including the university system.
It therefore urged members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the fabricated claims 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 signed by Boriowo Folasade, the Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry said.
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