The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has backtracked on earlier reports suggesting that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), never issued him a degree certificate. The minister, who serves in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, now insists that the university officially awarded him a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry in 1985.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Dr. Robert Ngwu, at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Nnaji dismissed the allegations of certificate forgery as “deliberate misinformation” and “politically motivated falsehoods” being peddled by certain media outlets and political actors.
“Let me state clearly and for the record: Chief Uche Nnaji is a proud alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), having graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry, with Second Class (Honours) Lower Division,” Ngwu declared.
However, controversy has trailed the minister’s academic credentials following reports that he admitted in court documents that the University of Nigeria never issued him a degree certificate.
Court records obtained from the Federal High Court, Abuja, show that Nnaji had filed a suit—Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1909/2025—against the Minister of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the University of Nigeria, among others. In his verifying affidavit supporting a motion ex parte, the minister acknowledged that he had “never collected any certificate” from the university.
This admission was contained in paragraph 13 of the affidavit, fueling speculation that his degree certificate was either missing or non-existent.
The controversy deepened in May 2025 when a letter purportedly issued by UNN Registrar, Mrs. Celine Nnebedum, to the Public Complaints Commission stated that after searching the institution’s 1985 graduation records, “Mr Nnaji’s name was not found.”
Further compounding the situation, UNN Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, reportedly confirmed in a letter dated October 3, 2025, and addressed to Premium Times, that “Mr Nnaji did not complete his studies and was never awarded a degree by the university.”
In a sharp rebuttal, the minister’s spokesperson described the university’s later communications as “fabricated” and “politically driven.” Ngwu maintained that the only valid letter from UNN was issued on December 21, 2023, and signed by Mrs. I.A.S. Onyeador on behalf of Registrar Nnebedum.
That letter, he said, confirmed that:
“Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division.”
Ngwu questioned the authenticity of the later documents denying Nnaji’s graduation, accusing unnamed political figures of using their influence within the university to manipulate records.
“What changed between December 2023 and May 2025—apart from the fact that two card-carrying members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) suddenly emerged as Acting Vice Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the University?” he asked.
He further accused Premium Times of building “a false narrative” on politically motivated foundations.
According to Ngwu, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice H.J. Yilwa, has since granted protective orders restraining UNN’s management from tampering with Nnaji’s academic records and compelling the release of his transcript.
“These are not speculative claims; they are certified orders of the Federal High Court of Nigeria,” Ngwu asserted, accusing the university’s leadership of “cyberbullying and political overreach.”
He also stressed that under academic convention, the Registrar—not the Vice Chancellor—is the lawful custodian of all academic records, describing the Vice Chancellor’s involvement in the matter as “an aberration in university protocol.”
Nnaji’s camp maintains that the entire controversy is part of a broader campaign to tarnish the minister’s reputation.
“It is increasingly clear that this entire episode is not about education or integrity; it is about political desperation, disguised as academic inquiry,” Ngwu alleged.
He said the minister remains focused on his duties and will not be distracted by “falsehoods and propaganda.”
“The facts are before the courts, the documents are public, and the truth cannot be buried under political manipulation. Chief Nnaji remains committed to advancing innovation and building Nigeria’s science and technology capacity,” Ngwu added.
Concluding, Ngwu urged the University of Nigeria to uphold its motto—“To Restore the Dignity of Man”—by distancing itself from political interference and reaffirming the authenticity of its official records.
“This is not just about one man’s academic record; it is about protecting truth, preserving institutional honour, and ensuring that no university in Nigeria ever becomes a pawn in partisan politics,” he said.
As of press time, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has not issued a new public statement clarifying the conflicting claims surrounding the minister’s academic record.