The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has denied issuing the Bachelor of Science degree certificate to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji.
The tertiary institution pointedly declared that Uche Nnaji did not complete his studies at the institution, thus was never awarded a degree.
This followed allegations of certificate forgery that have trailed Nnaji since July 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu included his name in the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees that was submitted to the Senate for screening and confirmation.
Some critics have insisted and maintained that the Nnaji never graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and emphasised that both the bachelor’s degree and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate he submitted to President Tinubu, as well as to the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Nigerian Senate, were forged.
While responding to a Freedom of Information request by PREMIUM TIMES, the Vice-Chancellor of UNN, Professor Simon U. Ortuanya, noted in a letter dated October 2, 2025, that even though Nnaji was admitted in 1981, he failed to complete his programme and was never issued a certificate.
Ortuanya said; “We refer to your letter dated 29 September 2025 in respect of the above subject matter. We can confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with Matriculation Number 1981/30725, was admitted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1981.
“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 (copy attached),” he stated.
The University’s declaration has therefore added a new twist to the controversy surrounding Nnaji’s credentials, and also increased the questions over his eligibility to serve in President Tinubu’s cabinet.
