The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has uncovered and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across Nigeria.
According to the Commission, the illegal institutions were discovered during a nationwide crackdown.
“The NCCE identified and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country,” the Commission stated.
This bold move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent directive to strengthen the fight against “certificate millers” that undermine the value of Nigerian education.
Speaking at the 14th Convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, the President ordered all relevant agencies to take decisive action against fake institutions.
Tinubu, represented by Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, emphasized that the integrity of Nigeria’s education system must be protected.
He said, “At this juncture, it has become imperative to reiterate that this administration remains committed to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in the administration of education to enhance efficiency and quality.”
The President highlighted that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the NCCE are working together.
Their goal is to prevent cases of forgery and clamp down on unrecognised institutions, both locally and abroad.
Furthermore, the NCCE confirmed that it has also conducted personnel audits and financial monitoring across all 21 federal Colleges of Education.
This is to ensure compliance with standards and prevent loopholes that allow illegal operators to thrive.
Moreover, with rising cases of forged certificates and unaccredited institutions, decisive action is viewed as long overdue.
However, with the closure of 22 illegal Colleges of Education, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to sanitizing Nigeria’s education system.
