Nigeria's University regulator has reconstituted a dedicated Committee to identify, investigate, and shut down illegal Universities operating within the country, as part of a renewed push to protect the credibility of higher education degrees.
The National Universities Commission inaugurated the reconstituted Committee on Degree Mills in an announcement posted on its official X handle on Friday. Executive Secretary Abdullahi Ribadu, who presided over the inauguration, said the move reflected the Commission's determination to confront institutions that undermine the value of university qualifications in Nigeria.
"The committee was constituted to reinforce the Commission's commitment to curbing activities that undermine the quality and credibility of university degrees in Nigeria," Ribadu said, adding that tackling degree mills remained critical to safeguarding standards across the nation's higher education system.
The committee is chaired by the NUC Director of Inspection and Monitoring, Justina Emerole, with members drawn from key directorates within the commission. Its terms of reference include identifying and investigating suspected degree mills, gathering evidence for prosecution, and verifying claims of affiliation with foreign or local universities.
The committee will also work alongside security and anti corruption agencies, including the EFCC, ICPC, DSS, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to shut down illegal institutions and prosecute those responsible for running them.
Public sensitisation campaigns and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework against illegal Universities form part of its broader mandate.
The reconstitution of the Committee signals that the Commission views the problem as ongoing and serious enough to warrant a structured, multi agency response rather than case by case enforcement.
