FG to begin nationwide academic credential verification for all staff and recruits from October 6

-SEB Editorial-

Nigeria’s Bold Leap Toward Academic Integrity

In a landmark move poised to redefine the credibility of Nigeria’s education and employment systems, the Federal Government has announced the commencement of a nationwide academic credential verification exercise, effective October 6, 2025.

This sweeping reform, mandated across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as public and private higher institutions, marks a decisive shift from fragmented institutional checks to a centralized, digital verification framework.

At the heart of this initiative lies the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), a core component of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) programme. Approved by the Federal Executive Council and launched by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in March 2025, the NCVS is designed to combat the proliferation of fake degrees, forged certificates, and unearned honours that have long plagued Nigeria’s academic landscape. The system will embed security features such as a National Credential Number (NCN) and QR codes into verified documents, ensuring that every certificate is instantly traceable, verifiable, and digitally stored in a national repository.

According to a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, no appointment, whether civilian, military, public, or private, will be confirmed without clearance from the NCVS. This clearance will serve as the official stamp of authenticity for academic qualifications, effectively insulating the verification process from institutional compromise. Akume emphasized that the reform is not merely procedural but structural, representing a departure from the old reliance on individual institutions to validate credentials. Instead, it introduces a national quality assurance mechanism backed by Section 10 (1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985.

The NCVS will also administer unique identifiers such as the National Student Number (NSN) and the National Document Number (NDN), feeding into a federated database of verified resource persons. This database will be governed by a council chaired by the Minister of Education and comprising representatives from the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and other key stakeholders. The strength of this system lies in its ability to link decentralized institutional records into a unified national framework while preserving institutional autonomy.

Haula Galadima, Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity at NERD, confirmed that the infrastructure is fully operational and urged institutions and employers to register their NERD focal persons and digitization officers via the agency’s portal. She described the initiative as a federation standard for higher education digitization, aimed at safeguarding national security, restoring educational integrity, and enhancing Nigeria’s global academic competitiveness.

As the October 6 deadline approaches, the message is clear: the era of academic fraud is drawing to a close.

Every credential presented in Nigeria must now withstand the scrutiny of a system built to uphold truth, transparency, and trust. This reform is not just a policy, it is a promise to future generations that merit will once again be the cornerstone of opportunity.