The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday, March 12, reconstituted a committee on degree mills to tackle the proliferation of illegal institutions across Nigeria.
In its six-point terms of reference, the NUC mandated the committee to collaborate with security and anti-corruption agencies to arrest and prosecute operators of fake institutions and illicit academic degree centres in the country.
“Work with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other relevant agencies to arrest operators of illegal institutions, close illegal facilities, prosecute offenders, and facilitate inter-agency task teams for joint operations where necessary,” the NUC said in a statement obtained from its website.
According to the release, the committee is expected to identify illegal institutions and degree mills and act on intelligence, public complaints, petitions, and surveillance reports received from stakeholders regarding their operations.
The panel is also mandated to conduct diligent and discreet investigations into identified degree mills, their promoters, modus operandi, and points of operation.
“Gather evidence required 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 sustaining public awareness campaigns on the dangers of patronising degree mills, providing verified information on identified fraudulent institutions, and issuing periodic advisories to universities, employers, and the public.
NUC stated, “Make recommendations to the NUC on preventive and strategic measures to curb degree mill activities; propose regulatory, legislative, and operational reforms to strengthen the commission’s response; and guide institutional processes such as verification of foreign degrees, accreditation safeguards, and quality assurance.
“Undertake additional duties that may assist the NUC in fulfilling its statutory mandate of maintaining quality and standards within the Nigerian University System (NUS).”
Abdullahi Ribadu, executive secretary of the NUC, emphasised that the team had been constituted to reinforce the commission’s commitment to curbing the proliferation of degree mills and confronting activities undermining the quality and credibility of degrees in the NUS.
He expressed confidence that the committee, which he said comprises men and women of integrity and commitment, would assist the commission in tackling the menace.
Justina Emerole, chairman of the committee, thanked the NUC executive secretary for reconstituting and inaugurating the committee, as well as for his unwavering leadership of the commission.
She said it is a rare privilege to carry out the assignment and pledged that the committee would not disappoint the commission.
Other members of the committee include Beatrice O. Emma-Okon and Ahmed Doko Ibrahim, visiting professors; Pascal Eruaga; Mohammed Ayuba; Bashir Dauda; and other principal officers of the commission.
In 2018, the NUC released a list of 58 illegal universities operating in the country, stating that certificates obtained from any of the institutions are invalid.
Three years later, the commission said it had discovered 67 illegal universities, satellite campuses, and study centres in the country.
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