The embattled Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, is facing public scrutiny over his academic credentials.
After an investigative report by Premium Times raised doubts about the authenticity of his academic documents, Nnaji called a media conference in Abuja on Monday to speak on the issue
But when journalists turned up, Nnaji was not there, rather he sent a representative who struggled to provide comprehensive answers to posers by journalists
Did the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation actually graduate from the University of Nigeria
Nsukka?
That is the question Nnaji was expected to answer when his office issued a notice for a news conference to address the issue
But questions were still left unanswered as only his spokesman showed up, providing two documents which were a convocation brochure claiming to show faces of the 1985 graduating class with an arrow pointing to an image said to be that of Nnaji
Another document presented was a letter purportedly issued by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and dated 21, December 2023, which claimed that Nnaji was admitted to the university in 1981 to study Microbiology and Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985.
The letter was purportedly issued by the registrar of the university following a 2023 enquiry by People’s Gazette
But when asked about the statement of results issued to Nnaji amid the recent disclaimer from the VC of the University, Nnaji’s representatives got agitated
Critics insist that Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelor’s degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharged certificate he presented to during his ministerial screening were allegedly forged. Nnaji denies this
When pressed further, the minister’s aides directed journalists to the security agencies claiming his academic documents were submitted to the DSS
In all, Nnaji’s representatives failed to provide the Certified True Copy of his academic credentials
but blamed the scandal on the Enugu State Government
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
