The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed viral reports claiming that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities in Nigeria and uncovered about 100 fake professors, describing the allegations as recycled misinformation aimed at misleading the public and damaging the reputation of the country’s university system.
The ministry clarified that the NUC never announced the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria and did not publish, endorse or authenticate the list of individuals currently circulating online as alleged fake professors.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
Fake Professor Allegation Linked to a 2019 Report
According to the ministry, the claim about fake professors originated from a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019.
The original report concerned an exercise by the NUC to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities. However, the ministry stressed that the report did not contain the names currently being shared on social media.
It added that the Commission had since disowned the circulating list, warning against presenting the unverified names as an official NUC publication.
Ministry Warns Against Misinformation
The Federal Ministry of Education expressed concern over the continued circulation of the claims, stating that they could undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to improve the education sector.
It urged members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the fabricated reports and verify information about recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.
Government Reaffirms Commitment to Academic Standards
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to working with the NUC to safeguard academic integrity, strengthen quality assurance and protect the credibility of Nigeria’s university education system.
The clarification is intended to address public concerns arising from the viral reports and discourage the spread of unverified information about Nigerian universities and their academic staff.
Members of the public are therefore advised to exercise caution when sharing claims about university accreditation, academic qualifications and alleged misconduct involving lecturers, particularly when such claims are not supported by official statements.
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