The Federal Government has shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across Nigeria, in a sweeping move to cleanse the nation’s education sector of unapproved and fraudulent institutions.
The action was revealed in a recent report by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), highlighting the agency’s efforts to enforce compliance and uphold academic integrity.
“The NCCE identified and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country,” the report stated.
“The Commission also conducted personnel audits and financial monitoring in all 21 federal colleges of education.”
The crackdown follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive to federal education agencies to intensify efforts against “certificate millers” – institutions issuing unaccredited qualifications that threaten the credibility of Nigeria’s education system.
Speaking at the 14th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to restoring quality and trust in the sector.
“This administration remains committed to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in the administration of education to enhance efficiency and quality,” Tinubu said.
He emphasized that the Federal Government is working in synergy with key agencies: including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the NCCE – to eliminate forgery and ensure that only recognized institutions operate within Nigeria’s academic ecosystem.
