Tinubu’s Minister Uche Nnaji resigns over certificate forgery scandal

In a political shake-up that has gripped the nation, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has officially tendered his resignation following intense scrutiny over the authenticity of his academic and NYSC credentials.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed the development in a brief statement released Tuesday, noting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted Nnaji’s resignation.

The resignation comes after mounting controversy over Nnaji’s academic history—particularly his alleged graduation from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

According to a bombshell investigative report by PREMIUM TIMES, a two-year probe revealed that key documents submitted by Nnaji to both the Presidency and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial vetting may have been falsified.

The report claimed that UNN could not verify Nnaji’s graduation, despite his insistence that he earned a degree from the institution in 1975. Contradicting this claim, the current Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Charles Igwe, reportedly stated that Nnaji was only admitted in 1981 and did not complete his studies.

Further complicating matters, the NYSC was said to have disowned the discharge certificate presented by Nnaji. According to the PREMIUM TIMES investigation, NYSC officials described the certificate as “strange” and lacking records in their database.

Sources close to the matter said questions around Nnaji’s qualifications have trailed him since July 2023, when he was included in President Tinubu’s first batch of ministerial nominees.

“The integrity of our public offices must be preserved. If the allegations are true, this goes beyond personal failure—it reflects a betrayal of public trust,” said a legal analyst, who asked not to be named.

While the presidency has not yet commented further on the circumstances surrounding the resignation, political watchers say this could be a litmus test for the administration’s stance on accountability.

As the dust settles, Nigerians await further action—either legal or administrative—that may follow in the wake of this high-profile resignation.