The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
By agency report
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate.
It would be recalled that an investigation by Premium Times online newspaper spanned two years, which was released on Saturday, had revealed that Nnaji had forged his university degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificates.
The report quoted a response to a freedom of information request sent by the newspaper, which stated that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there was no record that he completed his studies or graduated in July 1985, as his certificate claims.
In a letter dated Oct. 2, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, UNN disowned the certificate being currently paraded by the minister.
“From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology.
“This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter,” the letter was quoted.
Nnaji was confirmed as minister from Enugu State on Aug. 7, 2023, alongside 44 other cabinet members, following their nomination by the Senate on July 7.
He was subsequently appointed to head the newly established Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology.
However, in a fresh update, Nnaji has for the first time admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate.
In his supporting affidavit in court filings in a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja, Nnaji disclosed that despite completing his studies in 1985, the university never gave him a certificate.
This is contrast with his claims in the suit in which he had sought to restrain UNN and its officials from “tampering” with his academic records and to compel the release of his transcript.
The minister’s admission validates the allegations that the degree and NYSC certificates, which he submitted for his 2023 ministerial appointment were forged.
