In response to recent incidents involving fake certificates uncovered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), examination boards from Uganda and Kenya have approached the Nigerian government to verify the authenticity of records submitted by Nigerian students applying to their universities.
This development was disclosed in a document titled “Registrar’s Report on 2023 Admission & 2024 UTME Policy Meeting,” released by JAMB yesterday.
The document highlights the critical need to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions on the international stage. JAMB stressed its commitment to maintaining accurate records, stating, “Examination boards from Uganda and Kenya are now reaching out to JAMB to confirm the authenticity of records provided by candidates seeking admission. JAMB will not alter any student records.”
This action comes on the heels of the federal government’s recent suspension of certificate verification from several countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Benin Republic, and Togo, due to rising concerns about certificate fraud.
The suspension followed an investigative report by journalist Umar Audu from Daily Nigeria, who managed to obtain a degree from a Benin Republic institution within just six weeks. The investigation prompted the federal government to establish an inter-ministerial committee tasked with investigating certificate racketeering.
In a related move, JAMB has issued a stern warning to higher institutions that fail to submit the list of newly admitted students immediately after their matriculation ceremonies. JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, explained that this directive is part of broader recommendations from the federal government’s committee aimed at combating the proliferation of fake degree certificates in Nigeria.
JAMB also clarified the process for reporting candidates admitted outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) since 2017. Institutions have been instructed to submit their matriculation lists to the Federal Ministry of Education within three months of their matriculation ceremonies through JAMB’s designated channel.
The Board noted an increase in candidates seeking to resolve issues related to admissions not processed through CAPS since 2017. However, JAMB emphasized that its focus is on holding institutions accountable, not the candidates. Institutions are required to disclose all candidates admitted outside of CAPS by the deadline of August 31, 2024.
“This directive demands immediate compliance. We urge institutions to carefully review our initial communication and ensure full adherence, as failure to disclose will result in severe consequences. Candidates are also reminded not to accept admissions processed outside of CAPS,” JAMB stated.
JAMB reiterated that it will no longer entertain any undisclosed admissions from institutions, warning that those failing to comply will face strict penalties.
