The federal government has dismissed viral reports claiming that the National Universities Commission (NUC) identified 2,000 universities and uncovered about 100 fake professors in Nigeria, describing the claims as false, misleading and recycled misinformation.
The Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement published on its official X handle, said the NUC had never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in the country or published, endorsed or authenticated the purported list of individuals being circulated online as fake professors.
The ministry said the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, had categorically dismissed the claims, warning that they were intended to mislead the public and discredit Nigeria’s university system.
It explained that the allegation concerning fake professors was a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, regarding an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.
According to the ministry, the original report did not contain the names currently circulating on social media, adding that the Commission had since disowned the purported list.
“The allegation concerning fake professors is a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, concerning an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.
“The original report did not contain the names currently being circulated, which the Commission has since disowned,” the statement said.
The ministry expressed concern over the persistent recycling of false claims, noting that such reports could undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit ongoing efforts to strengthen the education sector.
It urged members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the claims and verify information concerning recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the NUC in safeguarding academic integrity, strengthening quality assurance and protecting the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.
The statement was signed by the director of press and public relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade.