UNN Disowns Tinubu Minister’s Degree Certificate, Says He Never Graduated
A major controversy has erupted over the academic qualifications of Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, after the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) officially disowned the Bachelor of Science degree he has long claimed to possess.
According to documents obtained by PulseNets, the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, in a letter dated October 2, 2025, confirmed that while Mr. Nnaji was indeed admitted into the university in 1981 to study Biological Sciences, he never completed the programme and was therefore not awarded any degree.
“From every available record, we are unable to confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985. There are no records of his completion of studies,”
— Prof. Ortuanya wrote.
He further stressed that:
“The University of Nigeria, Nsukka did not, and consequently could not, have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr. Nnaji.”
Forgery Allegations Traced Back to 2023
PulseNets learnt that questions surrounding Mr. Nnaji’s credentials first surfaced in July 2023, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted his name to the Senate for ministerial confirmation. Whistleblowers alleged that the minister neither completed his degree at UNN nor served under the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), despite presenting both certificates to multiple government agencies.
During his screening on August 1, 2023, the minister confidently told lawmakers that he earned a degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from UNN in 1985 and served in Jos the following year — a statement broadcast live on national television.
However, forensic analysis obtained by PulseNets on both his degree and NYSC certificates revealed several inconsistencies, raising suspicions of document forgery.
Forensic Red Flags Identified
Investigators reported that the NYSC certificate dated May 15, 1986, bore the signature of Col. Animashaun Braimoh — an officer who only assumed office as NYSC Director in 1988. The certificate also carried the title “National Director”, a designation that was not in use at the time, and included an alphanumeric ID number (A231309) — a system introduced only in the 1990s.
Even more suspicious, the NYSC certificate claimed that Mr. Nnaji served 13 months, instead of the statutory 12 months.
The supposed UNN degree certificate also conflicted with the NYSC document — showing a graduation date of July 1985, while his NYSC service allegedly began in April 1985, three months before graduation, which is impossible under Nigeria’s academic timeline.
UNN Records Tell a Different Story
University officials who spoke to PulseNets confirmed that while Nnaji enrolled in 1981, he failed several core courses, including Virology (MCB 431AB), and was advised to withdraw due to prolonged absenteeism.
A letter written by Mr. Nnaji himself on May 1, 1986, and obtained by PulseNets, revealed he was still seeking permission to retake a pending final course — months after the date he claimed to have graduated.
Institutional Contradictions and Reversal
PulseNets learnt that in December 2023, UNN’s Registrar, Mrs. Celine Nnebedum, initially claimed that Nnaji graduated in July 1985. However, she retracted her statement before the Public Complaints Commission in May 2025, admitting the university could not locate his name among the 1985 graduates.
The latest correspondence from Prof. Ortuanya now appears to have settled the controversy, validating the two-year investigation that concluded the minister’s academic certificate was fabricated.
Possible Legal and Political Consequences
The development has sparked widespread concerns about how the minister managed to pass vetting by the Department of State Services (DSS), the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Senate, and even the Presidency.
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Under Nigerian law, the presentation of forged academic or NYSC certificates is a criminal offence, punishable by dismissal from office and possible imprisonment.
As of press time, neither Mr. Nnaji nor the Presidency had responded to PulseNets’ request for comment.
