The National Universities Commission has handed down a hard knock on degrees obtained online from any institution outside the country, saying henceforth such certificates would not be recognised as a means of seeking employment or doing other legitimate business in Nigeria.
The commission also slammed Maryam Abacha American University, in Niger Republic, saying it has been inundated with enquiries from some Nigerian students who had been offered admission into the university.
“We wish to restate that as the only quality assurance agency for universities in Nigeria, the NUC is maintaining its stand that degrees from Maryam Abacha University will not be accepted in Nigeria”, the commission stated. The NUC which also discredited all part- time cross boarder education in Nigeria, therefore warned citizens against patronising online universities which offer academic programmes without physical contact with their students.
The commission’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mr. Ibrahim Usman Yakasai, made the announcement during a press briefing on Thursday evening in Abuja, against the backdrop of some foreign universities which place advertisements and admit students from Nigeria.
According to him, the Nigerian constitution has no backing or recognition for such degrees obtained online, insisting that students look for cheap means of acquiring qualifications to avoid competition at home.
He said, “Nigeria will not recognise online degrees. Online degrees are not accepted in Nigeria at the moment; the Nigerian constitution does not even give recognition to such degrees. Those who ran out of Nigeria for study outside this country are those looking for cheaper degrees. It is either they cannot pass the examinations or they do not possess the minimum entry qualifications.”
