Associations of Nigerian university students in Benin Republic and Togo have decried the decision of the Federal Government not to recognise degrees awarded by universities in the two West African countries.
According to the student associations, no fewer than 10,900 Nigerian students are currently studying in 46 higher institutions of learning in Benin Republic and Togo.
The PUNCH reports that the Federal Government took the decision following an undercover investigating report by a journalist with Daily Nigerian, which exposed certificate racketeering in Benin Republic.
An undercover journalist, Umar Audu, had detailed how he acquired a degree from a university in Benin Republic under two months and in fact, was deployed for the National Youth Service Corps.
Audu, who reached out to the syndicate that specialises in selling degree certificates in December 2022, graduated in February 2023 and was issued a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication certificate from the Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, Cotonou, Benin Republic.
The report generated an uproar, with the Federal Government immediately suspending accreditation of certificates from the two francophone West African nations and lraised a probe panel, which the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, said should submit its report in three months.
But speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, the Presidents of the National Association of Nigerian Students in Benin Republic and Togo expressed their distress over the situation, saying they had begun moves to engage with the Federal Government over the issue.
The President, National Association of Nigerian Students, Benin Republic, Ikenna Favour, said the Federal Government should not apply a blanket ban on the universities, as many do not engage in certificate racketeering.
Favour said, “While we acknowledge the need for transparency and accountability, we want to emphasise that not all students in Benin Republic and Togo buy certificates. As students, we face numerous challenges and obstacles on our educational journey. We take our education seriously, dedicating three or more years of hard work and perseverance to acquire our academic qualifications. We believe in the value of knowledge and the importance of earning our certificates through merit and dedication.
“We firmly believe that education is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all, regardless of their background or circumstances. By standing together, we can advocate for equal opportunities and recognition of the hard work put in by students in Benin Republic and Togo.”
On the number of Nigerian students currently studying in Benin Republic, the student leader said, “I can give you an estimate. Close to 10,000 students study in Benin currently. My administration is also working to get the exact number of students here.”
Similarly, the President of the NANS in Togo, Muhammad Ibrahim, told our correspondent that there are between 800 to 900 Nigerian students studying in Togo.
He said, “We have about 800 to 900 Nigerian students studying in Togo. I have communicated with my colleagues in Benin and we had several meetings yesterday regarding the issue. We held a meeting with the Special Assistant on Student Affairs to the President, Comrade Sunday Ashefon, and also the Secretary to the Minister of Education and the President of NANS in the diaspora. We are planning to have a press conference when we come back to Nigeria.”
The PUNCH reports that over the years, Nigerians have patronised institutions in the two West African countries owing to persistent industrial actions in Nigerian universities. Some Nigerians go there as a result of failure to secure admissions into choice courses of study.
