Nigeria’s Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate — a revelation that confirms a two-year Premium Times investigation alleging he forged the academic documents submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial screening.
The confession was contained in court filings obtained by Premium Times as part of a suit filed by Nnaji against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), UNN, and several university officials. In the suit, Nnaji asked the court to restrain the university from “tampering” with his academic records and to compel the release of his transcript.
However, in a verifying affidavit supporting his motion, the minister admitted that although he completed his studies in 1985, he had “yet to collect” his certificate due to the alleged non-cooperative attitude of university officials — effectively confirming that he never received a degree from UNN.
This admission validates Premium Times’ earlier report, which concluded that both the degree certificate and NYSC discharge certificate Nnaji presented for ministerial screening were forged.
In a follow-up development, UNN, through a letter dated October 2025 and signed by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, confirmed that Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree. The university further disowned an earlier letter issued by its registrar, Celine Nnebedum, which falsely claimed Nnaji graduated in 1985 — describing it as a “mistake” or possible case of manipulation.
A senior UNN official, speaking to Premium Times, revealed that Nnaji’s academic file clearly indicated that he dropped out before graduation, stating:
“The truth is that he never graduated from here. His file is intact and stops at the point where he dropped out.”
The revelation raises serious concerns about how Nnaji obtained the degree and NYSC certificates presented to the federal government and Senate in 2023. His ministerial profile claimed he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from UNN and completed his NYSC service at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital and Jos International Breweries.
Despite repeated attempts by Premium Times to get his reaction, Nnaji has refused to comment, ignoring calls, messages, and written inquiries.
His admission now casts a major shadow over his ministerial appointment, potentially triggering fresh legal and political consequences for the Tinubu administration.
