For many years, Nigeria has been drowning in a sea of fake certificates. Whether it is local government jobs or top federal appointments, forged academic credentials have become a silent epidemic. Nevertheless, with the new National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) officially launched on October 6, 2025, the federal government says it is finally ready to clean up the mess.
The new policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council earlier this year, means no one will be confirmed for any federal appointment without a clearance showing their certificates are genuine. The Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) will oversee the process — verifying academic records and issuing each verified document a National Credential Number with a unique security code.
Many Nigerians see this as a long-overdue reform. “This policy can restore some trust in our system if it is properly enforced,” says education consultant, Dr Funmi Adesina. “Too many public officials have built careers on forged degrees.”
Indeed, recent scandals have exposed just how deep the rot goes. The resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, disowned his certificate, is just one example of the issues surrounding academic credentials. Similar cases have surfaced across the country — from monarchs-elect and university staff to top government appointees — many of whom used fake credentials to rise to power.
Experts say the crisis is rooted in two major problems: weak institutions and the obsession with titles. “In a society where everyone wants to be called ‘Doctor’ or ‘Professor’, people are tempted to buy degrees,” says Prof. Bamidele Ojo of the University of Lagos. “But the deeper issue is that we have no reliable national database to verify anything.”
The result, according to analysts, is a country where fraud seeps into every sector — from fake doctors and pastors to quack engineers and dishonest academics. Honest Nigerians, both at home and abroad, now carry the burden of suspicion.
However, will NERD change that? Sceptics warn that without accountability, the system may simply digitise corruption. “If the same people who help forge certificates are allowed to manage verification, we will just have electronic fraud,” says civil rights advocate Chika Onyekachi.
Still, there is hope. If state governments and private institutions adopt the same policy, experts believe Nigeria could finally begin to restore integrity in its education system.
In a country where fake certificates have long defined ambition, NERD’s success or failure will show whether Nigeria is genuinely ready to confront its crisis of values — or just verify fraud with new technology.
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