A coalition of civil society organizations has raised serious concerns over the ongoing certificate forgery allegations leveled against the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, cautioning against the politicization of the issue.
Speaking at a press briefing , Comrade Thomas Henry, representing the Advocacy for Good Ethics and Accountability for Development, emphasized that the coalition was not defending the minister’s academic credentials but was alarmed by the political undertones surrounding the accusations.
“We are not here to defend whether the minister has or does not have a certificate. However, we are concerned about the politicization of this issue and the hidden agenda behind it,” Henry stated.
The coalition recalled a similar controversy involving Mr. Reno Omokri’s certificate forgery allegations against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the 2023 elections. Those claims were later proven false, with the President’s certificates confirmed genuine.
“Let us imagine for a minute if the public had accepted those false narratives at the time and the damage it would have caused to our dear President,” Henry said.
The group criticized Nigeria’s recruitment system for placing undue emphasis on academic qualifications over competence, experience, and track records.
“We strongly believe people should be assessed based on competence and experience rather than academic qualifications alone. Sacrificing competence for degrees has cost our nation dearly in leadership,” he added.
Highlighting the recent achievements of agencies under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the coalition urged Nigerians to independently evaluate organizations such as the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), and the Project Development Institute (PRODA) for their notable innovations and functionality.
The coalition also addressed the ongoing political tussle between Minister Nnaji and the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, suggesting that the controversy may be politically motivated.
“We are aware of Governor Peter Mbah’s involvement in the appointment of Professor Simon Ortuanya as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN). It is concerning that the certificate forgery allegation, which has been in contention for two years, suddenly became the Vice-Chancellor’s first priority, indicating possible instructions from political quarters,” the group said.
The coalition called on the media to maintain impartiality and refrain from being used as tools for political blackmail.
“Over the years, Premium Times has sometimes been seen as a tool for blackmail and frivolous claims. We urge the media to uphold fairness, balance, and caution in public discourse and reporting,” Henry added.
The group concluded by praying for a Nigeria free of political victimization and biased reporting — a nation that values competence above mere academic certificates.
