The Federal Government has fixed October 6, 2025, as the official date to kick-start a sweeping clampdown on fake academic certificates across the country.
In a circular signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, all Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and tertiary institutions—whether public or private, military or civilian—have been directed to adopt a uniform system of verifying academic qualifications.
The new process will run through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS), a key component of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) programme. Under this arrangement, no appointment will be confirmed unless an NCVS clearance affirms the authenticity of the certificates presented.
Akume explained that every verified credential will be issued a National Credential Number (NCN) along with security codes, making each document traceable and verifiable in real time. He stressed that this reform marks a major departure from the previous practice of relying on individual institutions for verification, which was prone to manipulation.
According to him, from October 6 onward, all academic awards—whether certificates, diplomas, or honours—must come from recognised and accredited institutions and will only be accepted if they can be digitally validated.
The enforcement framework is backed by Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985, placing the responsibility of implementation squarely on NERD.
