By our reporter
The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is at the center of a deepening certificate forgery scandal after admitting in a sworn affidavit that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate—despite his longstanding public claim of having graduated in 1985.
The revelation has sparked widespread outrage, particularly because Nnaji submitted both a university degree and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial vetting. Both documents are now facing serious scrutiny.
The University of Nigeria has denied issuing the certificate, stating that although Nnaji was admitted into the university in 1981 under matriculation number 1981/30725, there is no evidence that he fulfilled the academic requirements for graduation. According to internal academic records, Nnaji failed several courses and did not comply with directives to retake them. There are even indications that he may have been advised to withdraw from the program.
To compound matters, the NYSC has also reportedly disowned the discharge certificate Nnaji presented. Investigations revealed that the certificate carries the signature of an NYSC official who did not assume office until after the date
