Fal

A coalition of civil society organizations has raised serious concerns over the ongoing certificate forgery allegations leveled against the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, warning against politicizing the issue.

Speaking at a press briefing, Comrade Thomas Henry, who represents Defending Good Ethics and Accountability for Development, stressed that the coalition was not defending the minister’s academic credentials, but was alarmed by the political undertones surrounding the allegations.

“We are not here to defend whether or not the minister has a certificate. However, we are concerned about the politicization of this issue and the hidden agenda behind it,” Henry said.

The coalition recalled a similar controversy involving Reno Omokri certificate forgery allegations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2023 elections. Such claims were later proven false, with the president’s certificates confirmed as genuine.

“Let’s imagine for a minute if the public had accepted those false narratives at that time and the damage it would have caused to our dear president,” Henry said.

The group criticized Nigeria’s recruitment system for placing undue emphasis on academic qualifications over skills, experience and track records.

“We firmly believe that people should be evaluated on competence and experience rather than academic qualifications alone. Sacrificing competence for qualifications has cost our nation dearly in leadership,” he added.

Highlighting the recent achievements of agencies under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the coalition urged Nigerians to independently evaluate organizations such as the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) and Project Development Institute (ProDa) for their novel innovations and functionality.

The coalition also addressed the ongoing political tussle between Minister Nnaji and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, suggesting that the dispute could be politically motivated.

“We are aware of the involvement of Governor Peter Mbah in the appointment of Professor Simon Ortuanya as the vice-chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). It is worrying that the forgery certificate said the political group, which has been in contention for two years, has suddenly become the first chancellor, indicating possible political instructions,” who was in trouble.

The coalition called on the media to maintain impartiality and refrained from being used as tools for political blackmail.

“Over the years, premium times have sometimes been seen as a tool for blackmail and frivolous claims. We urge the media to uphold fairness, balance and caution in public discourse and reporting,” Henry added.

The group concluded by praying for a Nigeria free from political victimization and distorted reporting, a nation that values ​​competence above mere academic certificates.