The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s decision to commence a mandatory nationwide verification of academic credentials, describing the move as a major leap toward restoring credibility to Nigeria’s education system. The institute stressed that the decision would serve as a direct response to the growing menace of certificate forgery and racketeering that has plagued the nation for decades.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President and Chairman of Council of the institute, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (retd.), welcomed the initiative, noting that it would be implemented through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) under the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank. He described the policy as a bold attempt to standardize the country’s fragmented credentialing system.
According to Ayuba, the policy requires that both existing and prospective employees in public and private institutions must obtain the NCVS before their appointments or promotions can be confirmed. Each verified credential will be assigned a National Credential Number with built-in security codes, thereby ensuring authenticity, traceability, and reducing the possibility of manipulation within recruitment processes.
Ayuba lamented that fake certificates had thrived in Nigeria due to weak and compromised systems. He explained that previous attempts to address the problem had failed because institutions operated in silos without a unified database, making it easier for fraudulent documents to slip into the system undetected. He emphasized that the new approach would close these loopholes.
Highlighting the strength of the initiative, the NIM President pointed out that the NCVS has the unique capacity to link decentralized institutional databases into a federated national system while still preserving the autonomy of individual institutions. This balance, he argued, would make the verification process both comprehensive and respectful of institutional independence.
The institute urged universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and regulatory agencies to support the verification scheme. It described the process as a collective effort to create a one-stop platform where every credential issued by a Nigerian institution can be authenticated digitally, thereby reducing reliance on manual and often corrupt systems of verification.
The National Credential Verification Service was launched in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, following its approval by the Federal Executive Council. Government sources confirmed that the implementation of the system will officially take effect on October 6, with all institutions expected to comply with the directive.
According to the Federal Government, the verification system is designed to ensure that fake degrees, phony honours, and diploma mills no longer undermine the nation’s academic integrity. Officials say it will also give Nigerian graduates greater acceptance in global labour markets, where doubts over the authenticity of Nigerian certificates have long cast a shadow.
Stakeholders in the education sector believe the NCVS will not only boost confidence in Nigerian graduates but also protect honest students from being placed on the same level as fraudsters. By eliminating fake credentials, the policy is expected to strengthen merit-based employment and promotion practices, thereby improving productivity across both the public and private sectors.
As the October 6 commencement date draws closer, the Nigerian Institute of Management reiterated its readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure the smooth rollout of the scheme. The institute concluded that while the verification exercise may initially pose adjustment challenges, it represents an essential long-term investment in the credibility, dignity, and competitiveness of Nigeria’s educational and professional landscape.
