Following the suspension of accreditation of degree certificates obtained from institutions in the Republic of Benin and Togo by the Federal Government, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) lauded the FG for the prompt action on Wednesday.
News About Nigeria reported that the Federal Government, on Tuesday, through the Federal Ministry of Education, announced the suspension of accreditation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo.
The suspension came after an investigative report by the Daily Nigerian Newspaper titled “How Daily Nigerian reporter bagged Cotonou varsity degree in 6 weeks,” which shows how the reporter was able to get a degree certificate within six weeks in Cotonou, a major city in the Benin Republic, and also enrol in the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
In response to FG’s suspension of the accreditation of certificates from these countries, MURIC, in a statement released by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that FG’s move is commendable because the holders of the fake credentials are threats to the lives of Nigerians and the quality of public service because they would get opportunities they are not qualified for.
The statement partly reads, “A laudable move was made by the federal government when it suspended the accreditation of degrees from the Republic of Benin and Togo for their irregularities and fraudulent practices (FG Suspends Accreditation of Degree Certificates from Benin Republic, Togo.”
The group also called for a proper investigation into the Ministry of Education and the NYSC to ensure that there is no repetition of such lapses.
MURIC also charged innocent Nigerians who were deceived to obtain such certificates to endeavour to upgrade themselves by seeking authentic university admission either within or outside the country.
They also lauded the undercover investigative journalist, Umar Audu, for his commitment to ensuring that he exposes the educational fraud that is gradually becoming the order of the day in the country.
The Islamic group therefore charged other journalists and reporters in the Nation to emulate Umar by using their profession for the good of Nigeria.