The Ministry of Education has constituted a committee to investigate the alleged fraudulent methods used by some blacklisted universities in the Republic of Benin to mobilise their graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
Members of the committee, drawn from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), disclosed this during a visit to PUNCH Place, Magboro, Ogun State, on Thursday.
Saturday PUNCH had exclusively reported that certain blacklisted Benin Republic universities were infiltrating the NYSC scheme by collaborating with private polytechnics in Nigeria.
The report revealed that these universities obtained Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND) certificates for their graduates through the private polytechnics.
Investigations showed that once the polytechnics issued HND certificates, they subsequently mobilised the affected students for NYSC.
It was also reported that students paid about ₦400,000 to secure the HND certificates from these polytechnics, mostly situated in the South-West and South-East regions.
A member of the investigative committee and Assistant Director at the NBTE Inspectorate Department, Halilu Aminu, stated that following the exposé, the Ministry of Education directed the NBTE to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the perpetrators.
He explained that while efforts were ongoing to engage the NYSC and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the visit to The PUNCH was necessary to gain further insights into the revelations.
Aminu said, “We saw your publication on Saturday, October 11, on the issue of blacklisted Benin Republic universities and the collaboration with Nigerian private polytechnics in the certificate scandal.
“That prompted us that we needed to investigate, as we used to do when we get any information about any abuse of the standards, as far as technical and vocational education is concerned.
“The honourable Minister of Education directed our Executive Secretary to set up a committee to investigate what happened and who are the people involved, so that necessary legal action can be taken to address the issue, because it is a national embarrassment that we are having this kind of scandal happen.”
In his remarks, the Head of NBTE Legal Department, Sanusi Lawan, reaffirmed the agency’s determination to eliminate fraudulent practices in polytechnics and monotechnics across Nigeria.
“The board would continue to do its best to stop any illegal activities within the public and private institutions under the purview of the board, and the executive secretary wants to assure the general public that the board will take all necessary steps to stop these illegalities. No matter who is involved, the board will do its best to expose and, if possible, prosecute those behind it,” Lawan said.
He commended PUNCH for its dedication to investigative journalism and for exposing wrongdoing for the benefit of society.
While appreciating the NBTE delegation for its swift response, The PUNCH Editor, Tunji Abioye, assured the board of continued cooperation, adding that the organisation would remain committed to producing reports that foster accountability and societal improvement.
