Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned just days after allegations surfaced claiming he had forged his academic qualifications. This move follows a newspaper investigation that suggested Nnaji had presented falsified certificates to President Bola Tinubu when he was appointed as a minister in 2023.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the minister’s resignation, noting that Nnaji stated he had been targeted by political opponents seeking to blackmail him. However, Nnaji has publicly denied the forgery claims, asserting that he did indeed graduate with a degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The Premium Times newspaper’s two-year investigation into these allegations has caused significant public outrage in Nigeria. Adding to the scrutiny, the UNN reportedly informed the publication that it possesses no records confirming Nnaji’s graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1985, as he had stated. A senior university official also indicated that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he never completed his studies or received a certificate. Furthermore, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) could not verify the national service certificate Nnaji presented in April 2023.
Ministerial resignations or suspensions are uncommon in Nigeria. Nnaji is only the second minister to leave office since President Tinubu took office in May 2023. This situation follows the suspension of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister Betta Edu last January due to a corruption scandal, which she denied. For comparison, President Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, dismissed only two ministers during his entire eight-year term.
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