The Federal Government has dismissed reports claiming that Nigeria has 2,000 universities and that about 100 professors were exposed as fake, describing the allegations as fabricated misinformation intended to undermine confidence in the country’s higher education system.
The government said the National Universities Commission (NUC) neither made the claims nor published or authenticated the purported list of fake professors currently circulating on social media.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday through the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
Alausa described the reports as false and misleading, saying they were recycled versions of old information that had been distorted to deceive the public.
Specifically addressing the allegation that the NUC identified about 100 individuals as fake professors, the ministry explained that the claim was a misrepresentation of a media report published on December 3, 2019.
According to the ministry, the original report concerned an exercise by the commission to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities and did not contain the names currently being circulated online.
It added that the NUC had disowned the purported list, stressing that it neither originated from the commission nor received its endorsement.
On the claim that Nigeria has 2,000 universities, the ministry maintained that the regulatory agency had never announced such a figure or made any declaration suggesting that the country had that number of universities.
The government expressed concern over the continued circulation of false information, warning that such reports could damage the reputation of Nigerian universities and undermine efforts to improve academic standards.
It urged media organisations, social media users and the general public to verify information before sharing it, particularly reports concerning the recognition of universities and the credibility of academic qualifications.
The ministry advised Nigerians to rely on the NUC’s official communication channels for accurate information on recognised universities, academic standards and regulatory decisions.
It also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the commission in safeguarding academic integrity, strengthening quality assurance and protecting the credibility and international reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.
