When the Federal Government of Nigeria declared degree certificates issued by some universities in Benin Republic and Togo invalid, the dreams of many students were shattered. Ojuede Ojuejo (pseudonym), a 22-year-old resident of Lagos State whose academic future now hangs in the balance, was one of them.
Ojuejo, once a dedicated student at ESTAM University, told FIJ that she has been in distress since learning of the government’s declaration. Her greatest fear is confronting her parents with the news that she has wasted two years pursuing a futile goal.
“Many of us at ESTAM are devastated,” Ojuejo told FIJ on Monday.
“Returning home without a degree is not only embarrassing but heartbreaking, especially as my peers from secondary school have advanced farther than I have.”
Recalling how she ended up at ESTAM, Ojuejo explained that she came across an advert on Instagram about a 50% scholarship at ESAE, a university in Benin Republic, in November 2022. Although she wasn’t selected, studying in a country without the constant disruption of ASUU strikes attracted her.
“I spoke to a friend about not being chosen, and she suggested I try ESTAM instead. She gave me the registrar’s number,” Ojuejo recounted.
After contacting the registrar, she submitted her West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE), birth certificate and other documents, and was offered admission.
“I paid N50,000 for the acceptance fee. When I arrived in Benin, they verified my documents and I began classes. It felt like school — just like in Nigeria,” she said.
But her hopes were dashed recently when the Nigerian government announced the ban on several universities, including ESTAM.
“About 90% of us there were Nigerians. Many parents have contacted the school but they claim they’re working on the situation,” she said.
Ojuejo is now unsure of what to do next. Many of her peers, she said, are considering starting afresh by writing the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to fulfil their dreams of becoming National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
“I don’t know what to do yet. My time and money are gone. I’m in my final year, but now I have no choice but to return to Nigeria and start over,” she lamented.
BACKGROUND
In December 2023, an investigation by Daily Nigerian exposed how easily people could acquire fake degrees from universities in Benin Republic and Togo, with these certificates often used for employment and NYSC enrollment.
An undercover journalist with Daily Nigerian obtained a degree in Mass Communication from a Cotonou-based institution without attending classes or exams and even participated in the NYSC programme.
Following the investigation, the Federal Government suspended the evaluation and accreditation of Benin Republic and Togo degree certificates in January.
In August, the government declared all degree certificates issued by 45 universities in Benin Republic from 2017 onwards invalid. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) was instructed to inform public and private employers to identify employees with unrecognised qualifications.
Data from NYSC indicates that between 2019 and 2023, 21,684 individuals obtained fraudulent certificates from Benin Republic, with another 1,105 holding fake degrees from Togo.
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5 replies on “Nigerian Heartbroken After Returning Home From Banned Benin University Without a Degree”
Serves them right.
How can one go to Benon mushroom universities claiming ignorance?
Those schools are the same as the fake ones we have in Nigeria here .
I learnt from a friend that their degree courses last for just 2 years. What manner of a degree is that? 2yrs or 2 1/2 yrs you are flashing a degree.
I don’t need to be told it’s fake.
Don’t learn from any friend go and do your investigation… Degree in French countries last for three year L1, L2 and L3 (and also give room for summer classes) which is equivalent to any English degree, the fact that the journalist got the degree in Benin doesn’t change the fact that almost all schools in Nigeria to sells degree.
After this degree on coming to Nigeria for evaluation they undergo series of test (both written and oral) before been evaluated which all this process the students have to pay. They know it is fake and collecting money for years.
Sheer stupidity! Why not conclude your programme and take your degree. Is Nigeria the only place for its potential use? By the way, who trains a child these days for the Nigerian labour market?
We are still here pleading with the FG to reverse the ban considering those that really went to the school and studied hard to get their certificate.
Nigeria federal government should please let us use our certificate, there should be a form of test or something, If they doubt the result
J