President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji as Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following allegations that have dogged the minister in recent months.
Nnaji, who was appointed to the cabinet in August 2023, submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve the nation.
In his resignation letter, the former minister claimed he had been a target of blackmail by political opponents, though he did not provide specific details about the nature of the alleged blackmail or identify those he accused of orchestrating it.
President Tinubu acknowledged Nnaji’s service to the nation and extended his best wishes for his future endeavours.
Nnaji’s resignation comes amid mounting controversy surrounding his academic credentials. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, recently disowned a Bachelor of Science degree certificate allegedly submitted by the minister, stating that while he was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, he never completed the programme.
The scandal had prompted calls from civil society organisations and opposition politicians for Nnaji to step aside, with critics arguing that his continued presence in office undermined public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption stance.
The Presidency had previously stated it would await a court verdict on the matter before taking any action. However, Nnaji’s resignation appears to have brought the matter to a close, at least as far as his ministerial position is concerned.
The President is expected to announce a replacement for the ministerial position in due course.
