Minister Uche Nnaji Confesses: ‘UNN Never Issued Me Degree Certificate’

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, has admitted that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate, despite long-standing claims that he graduated from the institution.

The revelation surfaced in court filings obtained by journalists, where the minister confessed that although he was admitted into UNN in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, he never collected a certificate because the university allegedly “refused to issue” one.

This disclosure comes amid growing allegations of forgery and misrepresentation, following investigations that exposed inconsistencies in the academic and NYSC documents submitted by Nnaji during his ministerial screening.

In his sworn affidavit, the minister alleged that officials of the institution had been “uncooperative,” maintaining that the certificate in his possession was not released by the university.

However, UNN authorities have distanced themselves from the purported document. In an official letter dated 2 October 2025, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, confirmed that while Nnaji’s name appears in the school’s records as a former student, there is no evidence that he graduated or fulfilled the requirements for a degree.

The statement contradicts an earlier letter issued by the Registrar in 2023, which claimed that Nnaji graduated in July 1985—a position the university later retracted in May 2025 after an internal review.

The controversy has also extended to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which has reportedly denied issuing the discharge certificate the minister presented as part of his credentials.

With mounting questions surrounding his academic qualifications, civil society groups and political observers are calling on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to launch a full investigation into how Nnaji was cleared during the ministerial vetting process.

As of the time of filing this report, the minister has yet to issue any official response to the latest revelations.