The NUC set up a committee to hunt down fake universities and degree mills

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has set up a committee to tackle the proliferation of illegal universities and degree mills in Nigeria.

The move was publicized in a statement posted on the NUC website, which highlighted a six-point terms of reference that mandates the committee to work with security and anti-corruption agencies to arrest and prosecute operators of fake institutions and illicit academic degree centers in the country.

“Cooperate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Department of State Security (DSS), Nigerian Police (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and other relevant agencies to arrest operators of illegal institutions, shut down illegal facilities, prosecute violators and facilitate inter-agency task teams for joint operations where necessary,” the NUC said in a Thursday statement obtained from its website.

According to the release, the committee is expected to identify illegal institutions and degree mills and follow up on intelligence reports, public complaints, petitions and scrutiny received from stakeholders regarding their operations.

The panel is also mandated to conduct a thorough and judicious investigation of the identified factories, their promoters, their modus operandi and their points of operation.

“Gather evidence necessary for effective prosecution by relevant security and anti-corruption agencies; and verify claims of affiliation with foreign or local universities,” the statement added.

Other mandates of the committee include creating and maintaining public awareness campaigns about the dangers of patronizing degree mills, providing verified information regarding identified fraudulent institutions, and issuing periodic advisories to universities, employers, and the public.

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‘OVERSEAS DEGREE VERIFICATION’

“Make recommendations to the NUC on preventive and strategic measures to curb the activities of degree mills; propose regulatory, legislative, and operational reforms to strengthen the commission’s response; and provide guidance on institutional processes such as foreign degree verification, accreditation protection, and quality assurance,” the NUC stated.

“Carry out additional duties that may assist the NUC in fulfilling its statutory mandate to maintain quality and standards in the Nigerian University System.”

Abdullahi Ribadu, NUC executive secretary, stressed that the team was established to strengthen the commission’s commitment to curb the proliferation of degree mills and to confront activities that undermine the quality and credibility of degrees in the Nigerian University System (NUS).

He expressed confidence that the committee, which he said consists of men and women of integrity and commitment, would help the commission in dealing with the threat.

Justina Emerole, chair of the committee, thanked the NUC executive secretary for reconstituting and formalizing the committee, as well as for her “unwavering leadership” on the commission.

He said it was a rare honor to carry out the task and promised that the committee would not let the commission down.

Other committee members include Beatrice O. Emma-Okon and Ahmed Doko Ibrahim, visiting professors; Pascal Eruaga; Muhammad Ayuba; Bashir Dauda; and other principal officials of the commission.