Certificates from Benin Republic varsities valid, says NANS

The National Association of Nigerian Students in Benin Republic on Friday assured Nigerian students in the West African country of a speedy completion of the investigative process into the activities of degree mills which has led to the suspension of degree certificates from Benin Republic, Togo and some other countries.

The body, in a statement made available to our correspondent by its President, Ikenna Favour, also urged the students not to pay attention to purveyors of fake news while stressing the fact that the degrees obtained from universities in the country are valid and legal.

The Federal Ministry of Education had announced a suspension of degree certificates from some African countries following an investigative report by a Daily Nigerian reporter, Umar Audu.

In the report, the journalist exposed the activities of degree mills in Benin Republic, Togo, among others.

While encouraging his colleagues, the NANS Benin president said, “We kindly ask that we put our mind to rest as thorough investigations are still ongoing and on the process we urge everyone to pay deaf ears to any erroneous information circulating online.

“We understand your worries, concerns, and the destabilising situation it may have caused, but we assure you that your degrees obtained from your institutions here in Benin Republic are recognised, valid, and respected. “We urge and encourage you to remain focused and prioritise your education over any other thing, having self-determination, and not having anything to be a hindrance to your educational pursuits.

“NANS-RB is working effectively alongside, the Nigerian Embassy in Benin, the registrars and management of our various citadels of knowledge, lecturers and various stakeholders in Nigeria and in diaspora are all working collectively towards providing assistance and guidance to Nigerian students.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and keep you in touch with valid and positive updates concerning the suspension of accredited institutions.”

A committee has since been inaugurated by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, to look into the issues raised by the journalist and proffer solutions.