FG debunks viral list of 2000 fake varsities

The Federal Government has debunked viral claims that the National Universities Commission identified about 100 fake professors and uncovered 2,000 universities in the country, saying the commission neither made such declarations nor authenticated the lists circulating on social media.

The Federal Ministry of Education said the claims were false and misleading, explaining that the allegation about fake professors was a distorted version of a 2019 media report on the NUC’s verification of the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.

According to the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, in a statement issued on Saturday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the NUC had never declared the existence of 2,000 fake universities.

Alausa added that the NUC did not publish, endorse, or authenticate the purported list of individuals being described online as fake professors.

“The NUC has never declared the existence of 2,000 fake universities in Nigeria or published, endorsed, or authenticated the purported list of individuals circulating online as fake professors,” he said.

The minister explained that the allegation concerning fake professors was a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, concerning an exercise by the NUC to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.

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He said the original report did not contain the names currently being circulated online, stressing that the commission had since disowned the purported list.

According to the minister, the recycling of the claims was particularly concerning because of their potential to mislead the public and damage the reputation of the country’s higher education system.

“The ministry expresses concern over the persistent recycling of these false claims, which are calculated to undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector, particularly the university system,” the statement read.

He urged members of the public, media organisations, and social media users to disregard the reports and avoid circulating unverified information about universities and academic qualifications.

Alausa also advised Nigerians to verify information concerning recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.