The Federal Government is considering assessment tests for Nigerians with foreign degrees before their mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, amid efforts to prevent fake certificates and ensure that qualifications obtained abroad meet acceptable academic standards.
The proposal was presented by the director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, at the 37th meeting of the National Standing Committee on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications in Abuja.
Olatunji-David said the government must ensure that Nigerians who present foreign qualifications actually attended the institutions that awarded their certificates.
She stressed that “international education must not compromise acceptable academic standards,” highlighting the need for stronger verification of foreign degrees, particularly those obtained from African countries.
The committee is also considering a system to monitor Nigerians studying in African institutions and recognise foreign regulatory bodies as reliable sources for verifying academic qualifications.
The ministry further disclosed that it has automated the evaluation of foreign qualifications and authentication of Nigerian certificates since the beginning of the year.
Other issues before the committee include guidelines for determining the equivalence of foreign secondary school certificates and ensuring that schools operating foreign curricula in Nigeria comply with national education policies.
The ministry said it would strengthen verification and regulatory measures to ensure that only genuine qualifications from recognised and accredited institutions receive official recognition.