The Acting Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, revealed that the commission has identified at least 37 illegal universities operating in Nigeria. Maiyaki emphasised that the NUC has taken action against these unauthorised institutions, with some arrests already made.
Maiyaki mentioned the active involvement of the Department of State Services in cracking down on these illegal universities. He urged parents to visit the NUC’s website to verify the legitimacy of universities in Nigeria and ensure that their children do not fall victim to fraudulent educational institutions.
The announcement follows the suspension of degree certificates from two francophone West African countries. This decision was prompted by an undercover journalist’s expose on how he obtained a degree from a university in Benin Republic in under two months and subsequently deployed for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).