Nigerian university reportedly denies issuing degree certificate to Tinubu’s minister

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has distanced itself from the Bachelor of Science degree  reportedly claimed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, allegedly confirming that the minister neither completed his studies at the institution nor received any certificate from it.

Allegations of certificate forgery have trailed Mr Nnaji since July 2023, following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu among the first batch of 28 ministers sent to the Senate for screening, shortly after the administration took office on May 29, 2023.

According to a report by Premium Times, critics have long alleged that the minister did not complete his university education, accusing him of presenting forged academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates to President Tinubu, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate.

In response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by PREMIUM TIMES, UNN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon U. Ortuanya, confirmed that although Mr Nnaji was admitted into the university in 1981, records show he did not graduate.

“We refer to your letter dated 29 September 2025 in respect of the above subject matter,” Mr Ortuanya wrote in a letter dated 2 October 2025. “We can confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with Matriculation Number 1981/30725, was admitted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1981.From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology. This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter (copy attached).”

The vice-chancellor’s response followed a two-year investigation by PREMIUM TIMES into the authenticity of Mr Nnaji’s credentials.

The newspaper said first submitted an FoI request to the university in February 2024, but officials failed to reply despite multiple reminders and visits. During one such visit, a staff member reportedly demanded a ₦15,000 processing fee before handling the request — which was paid, but no response followed.

It was only after a renewed inquiry, sent by courier on October 2, 2025, and accompanied by a copy of the degree certificate the minister presented to the Senate during his screening on August 1, 2023, that the university finally responded. Professor Ortuanya, who assumed office as vice-chancellor on August 2, 2025, signed the reply.

According to the newspaper, interestingly, the university’s position now contradicts an earlier statement issued to People’s Gazette. In December 2023, UNN Registrar had confirmed that Mr Nnaji graduated from the institution in July 1985. She later retracted that statement, informing the Public Complaints Commission in May 2025 that the university found no record of Mr Nnaji in its 1985 graduation list.

(PREMIUM TIMES)