Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned from his position following allegations that he forged his academic qualifications.
His resignation comes only days after reports surfaced claiming that he presented fake documents to secure his appointment in 2023.
The controversy began after an investigative report by the Premium Times alleged that Nnaji had submitted falsified certificates to President Bola Tinubu during his vetting process. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the resignation in a post on X late Tuesday, quoting Nnaji as saying he had been “a target of blackmail by political opponents.”
Nnaji, however, has firmly denied the allegations, maintaining that he legitimately earned a degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
“I am innocent of all these claims,” he reportedly told journalists earlier in the week, insisting that the accusations were fabricated to tarnish his reputation.
The Premium Times report, which followed a two-year investigation, claimed that UNN could not find any record confirming Nnaji’s graduation in 1985, the year he said he completed his studies.
A senior university official told the publication that while Nnaji was admitted to the institution in 1981, he neither finished his coursework nor received a certificate.
The controversy deepened when the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stated that the national service certificate Nnaji submitted in April 2023 could not be verified. The NYSC said its records did not correspond with the details provided by the minister.
Reacting to the development, opposition leader Atiku Abubakar called for a thorough and transparent investigation, saying Nnaji’s actions, if proven, amount to deception. “Nigerians deserve to know the truth about those who preside over their lives and resources,” Abubakar posted on X, adding that the minister should have been “summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification.”
Nnaji’s resignation marks a rare instance of a cabinet member stepping down under President Tinubu’s administration. Since Tinubu took office in May 2023, only one other minister has left the government.
In January, the then Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Betta Edu, was suspended after public outrage over a corruption scandal. Edu denied any wrongdoing.
During the eight-year rule of Tinubu’s predecessor, the late Muhammadu Buhari, only two ministers were dismissed from office. Nnaji’s departure, therefore, adds to the growing list of integrity questions surrounding senior public officials in Nigeria, amid calls for greater accountability and transparency in government appointments.