In response to recent cases of fake certifications discovered by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), examination boards in Kenya and Uganda are now reaching out to Nigeria to verify records for Nigerian candidates seeking admission into their institutions.
JAMB revealed this development in a document titled ‘Registrar’s Report on 2023 ADMISSION & 2024 UTME Policy Meeting,’ shared with Channels Television on Wednesday. The report emphasized JAMB’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, stating unequivocally that it will not falsify any student records.
“Examination boards in Uganda and Kenya are now contacting JAMB to confirm the authenticity of records submitted by candidates for admission. JAMB is committed to transparency and will not engage in record falsification,” the statement read.
Recently, the Federal Government halted the verification of degree certificates from several countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, and Togo, amid concerns over certificate racketeering. This decision followed a report by Daily Nigeria reporter Umar Audu, who exposed how he obtained a degree in just six weeks from the Benin Republic.
In response to these revelations, the Federal Government formed an Inter-Ministerial Investigative Committee to examine the issue of certificate racketeering. Channels Television also reported that JAMB has threatened sanctions against higher institutions that fail to submit their student admission lists promptly.
Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, explained that this initiative is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to combat fake degree racketeering. Institutions are required to submit their admission lists through a dedicated channel before August 31, 2024.
JAMB has observed a surge in candidates seeking resolution for issues related to admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) since 2017. The focus is on ensuring institutions disclose all admissions made outside CAPS, with serious consequences for non-compliance.
In a related memo dated July 15, 2024, the education ministry requested JAMB to enforce the following recommendations: all Nigerian tertiary institutions must conduct admissions exclusively through CAPS and regularly submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education within three months of ceremonies.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has pledged to address the issue of fake degrees, ensuring that those holding fraudulent certificates are removed from the Nigerian educational system. Last Thursday, Channels Television reported that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) had disqualified 54 corps members illegally mobilized by the University of Calabar, bringing the total number of voided certificates to 178.
