JANUARY 1, 2024 Vol.3 No.

61

Chairman:
NASS LAUDS JAMB ON INCLUSIVITY POLICIES
candidates with disabilities, who possess
Dr. Fabian Benjamin
Members: five O'level credits and who are desirous
Amina Abdullahi Haruna of sitting the 2024 Unified Tertiary
Abdulrahman Akpata Matriculation (UTME).
Clement Ojo The Chairman, House Committee on
Ismaila Jimoh Disability Matters, Hon. Bashiru Dawodu,
Ijeoma Onyekwere gave this commendation in a chat with
Graphics Editor: JA M B u l l et i n o n We d n esd a y, 27 t h
Nikyu Bakau December, 2024.
Correspondents: According to the lawmaker, the grant of
Evelyn Akoja free application documents emanated
Oseinat Ayodele Smith
from the resolutions of the "First National
Computer Typesetting:
Dorcas Omolara Akinleye Conference on Equal Opportunity of
Cameraman: Access to Higher Education in Nigeria"
Prince Kalu H o n B ash i r u D a wo d u , C h a i r m a n , H o use held on 26th September, 2023, at the
Circulation: Committee on Disability Matters, National Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, FCT.
Assembly.
Gabriel Ajodo The lawmaker repesenting Oshodi-Isolo

Pg 3 FINANCIAL REPORT OF INFLOW AND OUTFLOW

FOR THE PERIOD OF 23RD DECEMBER TO 29TH DECEMBER, 2023
T he Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board(JAMB) has
been lauded for its planned
issuance of free application forms to
Federal Constituency 1, who described
the gesture as "a wonderful idea" said
the gesture would not only enhance
Contd in Pg 2
Pg 4 EDUCATION IN THE MEDIA

Pg 7 INTERNAL ADVERTISEMENT JONAPWD COMMENDED OLOYEDE ON DISABILITY -

Pg 8 2021/2022 REPORT OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
MATRICULATION AND ANALYSIS
FRIENDLY INITIATIVES
Pg 10 2022/2023 REPORT OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ...Says 4000 Members to Enjoy Free JAMB Forms

MATRICULATION AND ANALYSIS
Pg 13 HOW DAILY NIGERIAN REPORTER BAGGED COTONOU VARSITY DEGREE
IN 6 WEEKS, PARTICIPATED IN NYSC SCHEME BY UMAR AUDU
Pg 16 2024 UTME: NO INCREASE IN REGISTRATION FEE
Pg 17 REGISTRAR OF JAMB, PROF. IS-HAQ OLOYEDE INSPECTS PROJECT
CURE FACILITIES AT FMC AZARE, BAUCHI STATE
Pg 18 SALE OF 2024 UTME/DE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IN NIGERIA AND
FOREIGN CENTRES
T
he Joint National Association of The National President, JONAPWD, Mr
Persons with Disabilities Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, in an exclusive
(JONAPWD), has described the interview with JAMBulletin on 28th
resolve of the Joint Admissions and D e c e m b e r, 2 0 2 3 , e x p r e ss e d t h e
Matriculation Board(JAMB) to issue free happiness of the body at such good
UTME registration application news as announced during the "First
documents to candidates with JEOG conference on Equal Opportunity
disabilities with five O'level credits as a of Access to Higher Education in Nigeria"
worthy initiative. held recently in Abuja.
Contd in Pg 6

2024 UTME/DE REGISTRATION: ANEKWE CHARGES

DESK OFFICERS ON RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
A call has gone to the staff of the
Abia State Office of the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation
Board (JAMB), to be diligent in their
dealings with candidates during the
upcoming 2024 UTME/DE registration
exercise.
This charge was contained in the address
of the Ag. Abia State Coordinator, Mrs.
Juliet Anekwe, during a strategic
stakeholders' meeting held at the Abia
State Office on Wednesday, 27th
December, 2023.
According to her, all hands must be on the
deck towards achieving a seamless 2024
UTME/DE registration exercise. She,
therefore, urged the staff, especially the
registration Desk Officers to strictly adhere
to all relevant guidelines on the exercise.
Additionally, she admonished the staff to
be wary of data mismatch, wrong
Contd in Pg 5

...NASS Lauds JAMB on Inclusivity Policies
access to higher education but
w o u l d a l s o re m o v e f i n a n c i a l
impediments for candidates with
disabilities.
The Chairman, while also
canvassing for free education for
candidates with disabilities at all
levels and their automatic job
placement upon graduation, urged
all agencies of government and
organised private sector to emulate
JAMB by putting in place policies
t h a t w o u l d b r i n g s u c c o u r to
candidates with disabilities.
"The issuance of free UTME forms to
candidates with five O'level credits is
a wonderful idea. In fact, the
Committee on Disability Matters is
impressed with how well JAMB is
running its affairs and its activities
particularly as they concern persons
2024 UTME: JAMB WARNS AGAINST MULTIPLE
REGISTRATIONS, DIVULGING REGISTRATION
DETAILS
Mrs Ville Pius, Director, Test Administration
Department, JAMB.
A head of the 2024 Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME)
registration exercise, the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation
2 January 1 2024
Living with Disabilities (PLWD). In this
respect, JAMB is ahead and doing
very well," he said.
Hon. Dawodu, who also described
Prof. Oloyede as an uncommon
advocate of inclusive education,
commended him for the
transformations he had birthed in
J A M B t h ro u g h l e v e ra g i n g o n
relevant technology and, by so
doing, changing its narratives for the
better.
Furthermore, he also scored the
Registrar high for the creation of the
JAMB-Equal Opportunity Group
(JEOG) to cater for candidates with
d i sa b i l i t i es p a r t i c u l a r l y b l i n d
candidates noting that this act
might not be unconnected with the
Registrar's love for Persons Living
With Disabilities.
Board(JAMB) has warned
candidates against engaging
in multiple registrations.
This warning was contained in
a statement signed by the
Director, Test Administration
Department, Mrs Ville Pius,
and made available to
JAMBulletin.
In her words, "Multiple
registrations are not allowed
in the 2024 UTME exercise,
candidates, who register more
than once would be identified,
disqualified and prosecuted."
Furthermore, the Director
explained that in the event of
any error during the
registration process,
candidates are to approach
th e B o a rd fo r n e cessa r y
corrections rather than
obtaining fresh application
documents as they would be
deemed to have engaged in
Vol.3 No. 61
Contd From Pg 1
He advised the Registrar to take the
interest of PLWD into consideration
when embarking on infrastructural
development and construction of
Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centres
to make them more user-friendly for
candidates with disabilities.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker, while
re i te ra t i n g h i s co m m i tte e's
commitment to entrenching a more
inclusive and equitable society,
expressed its resolve to acting as a
voice for the disabled community,
commended JAMB for its generous
and landmark recommendation on
f re e d o n a t i o n of a p p l i c a t i o n
documents to desiring candidates
with disabilities stating that such a
move was long overdue.
multiple registrations, which could
invalidate their applications.
The statement, therefore, urged
candidates to read and understand
the various guidelines on
registration as well as the set of
instructions related on the Board's
advertisement on registration,
among others, on how to complete
the registration process.
Meanwhile, prospective candidates
are also reminded that upon the
completion of registration, they
would be required to sign an MoU on
compliance with ethical standards
guiding their applications.
The Director also advised
candidates against divulging their
security details such as registration
n u m b e r, p a s s w o r d s , e - m a i l
addresses and e-PIN to third-
parties adding that no centre is
allowed to request or accept
candidates' passwords.
 REPORT OF INFLOW AND OUTFLOW FOR THE PERIOD
DECEMBER 23 2023 - DECEMBER 29 2023

FINANCIAL INFLOW
S/N DESCRIPTION AMOUNT(N)
1 E-facilities/Sales 143,121,000.00
2 PRC Service Charges 403,200.00
3 OTHER INCOME 235,085.67
TOTAL 143,759,285.67

FINANCIAL OUTFLOW
S/N DESCRIPTION PURPOSE AMOUNT(N)
1 Staff Claims and Welfare Various 42,440,082.14
2 Outsouced Service Agency Service 14,025,000.00
3 Outsouced Service Cleaning Service 5,665,174.84
4 Ijunt Construction Limited Kaduna Mega PTC Phase 2 27,945,362.36
5 Hammer General Venture Ltd Advertisement 7,380,000.00
6 Kingsmann Graffix Ent Printing 106,424.00
7 Total Nigeria Ltd Refill of PMS Cards 1,000,000.00
8 Legal Consultancy Reimbursible Expenses 600,000.00
9 Dirham Nig Ltd Retention on Owerri Two PTC Computerisation 6,479,462.31
10 Mailambu & Sons Ltd Retention on Akure PTC Computerisation 3,277,094.09
11 Computer Registration Council of Nigeria Accreditation of 2024 CBT Centres 623,000.00
12 Tomeh Travels and Tours Ltd Flight Tickets 7,646,512.00
13 Achivisual Solution Ltd Motor Vehicles Maintenance 2,397,000.00
14 Emo Project and Investment Ltd Maintence of office Equiptment 262,620.01
15 NISS Staff Development 10,500,740.00
16 Remita Financial charges 70,692.00
TOTAL 130,419,163.75

JAMB CELEBRATES STAFF BORN JANUARY 1ST – JANUARY 7TH 2024

1ST JANUARY Salisu Babayo Joshua Chizurum Egba
Owoicho Ajenge Sani Rugga Isah
Alice Apeh Abah Abubakar Hassan 5TH JANUARY
Godwin Idoko Abah Maryam Muzzamil Hanga Baba Wachiko Bala
Ngozi Augusta Osude Waheed Yusuf
Umar Aliyu Mohammed 2ND JANUARY Safiya Onize Musa
Alhassan Alhaji Garba Hassan Agwela Simon Eluma Ochoji
Iliyasu Mu'azu Moses Akaito Olayemi Babatunde Alabi
Joseph Abiodun Rotimi Ishaku Azi Musa Ikechukwu McDonald Awuzie
David Wudiri Ishaya Abubakar S. Koko
Adenike Oluwaseun Owolabi Isah Ibrahim Musa
Ado Magashi Muhammad
Amina Erena Umar Muzzammil Muhammad Bello TH
Kasuwa Sylvanus Galadima Victoria Odunayo Babatunde 6 JANUARY
Sanusi Mu'azu Atose
Unwuchola Unekwu RD Philomena Ngezelonye Asielue
Phoebe Morgan Ishaya 3 JANUARY Ojochide Ogu
John Ankin Ranti Julius Faniran
Sani Ibrahim Nasarawa Latifat Kikelomo Adelakun
Murtala Augie Umar Mushrafat Oyebola Oladimeji
Ima Edet Ekong
Ogochukwu Ifeoma Nkwo
Daiyabu Musa Bununu
TH
4 JANUARY 7TH JANUARY
Oluwatoyin Biodun Kayode Nurudeen Oladele Raimi Latifat Adenike Orunsolu
Muhammad Abubakar Zabi Olorunyomi Emmanuel Osamoto Linda Chinwendu Agu
Abdullahi Idris Timothy Jatau Ebuga

January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61 3

NATION, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23,
2023- NUC Approves 41 Courses for
New University of Education: The
National University Commission (NUC)
has approved 41 full-time courses in
four faculties for the take-off of the
Niger State University of Education for
the 2023/2024 academic session.
This was contained in a letter
addressed to the Vice-Chancellor of
the State University of Education
signed by the Acting Director of
Academic Planning, Abubakar Girei
dated 20th December 2023. Also in
Tribune, Sunday, December 24, 2023
DAILY SUN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26,
2023- Verify Candidates' Claims
Before Awarding S cholarship-
Oloyede, JAMB Registrar: Worried by
the spate of fraudulent claims of
excellence by some misguided
candidates, the Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB) has
urged the general public, particularly
k i n d - h e a r te d i n d i v i d u a l s a n d
organisations, to cross-check claims
o f e xc e l l e n t p e r fo r m a n c e b y
candidates before awarding them
scholarships.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede,
gave this advice during a virtual
meeting with the States
Commissioners for Education across
the country. He stated that seeking
clarifications from the Board would
p reve n t f ra u d u l e n t c l a i m s of
excellence.
NATION, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28,
2023- Student Loans Will Help
Varsities Focus on Core Philosophy:
Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria
Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Charles Igwe has
said the students' loans scheme
initiated by President Bola Tinubu will
make public universities concentrate
on their core mandates of learning
and research.
Prof. Igwe, who spoke against the
4 January 1 2024
financial pressures, particularly on
public tertiary institutions, to fund
themselves through the generation of
Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),
insisted that universities were never
established to raise money to run
themselves and still engage in
academics.
Fielding questions from reporters
after being conducted around
projects executed by his
administration on the three
campuses of the university, Prof. Igwe
said the students' loan scheme would
enable the tertiary institutions
perform their mandates without
encumbrances on the students and
the instructions.
N E W T E L E G R A P H , T H U R S DAY,
DECEMBER 28, 2023- AAMUSTED
Signs MoU With LASUSTECH To Boost
Tech Research: The Akenten Appiah-
Menka University of Skills Training and
E n t re p re n e u r i a l D eve l o p m e n t
(AAMUSTED) has signed a
memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with the Lagos State University
o f S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y
(LASUSTECH) to establish inter-
university cooperation and
interaction, scientific and cultural
exchange, as well as promote mutual
understanding and respect between
citizens of Nigeria and Ghana.
The five-year agreement between
t h e t wo u n i ve rs i t i es se e ks to
accomplish at least eight academic
and professional collaborations in
areas including joint research
collaborations and application for
research grants; joint publication of
scientific papers and educational
materials resulting from the
collaborations within the cooperation
of the programme; joint courses,
graduate and undergraduate
student mobility such as internship,
st u d y a b ro a d , exc h a n g e a n d
fellowship; joint application for
Vol.3 No. 61
funding for collaborative projects on
sustainable development from
relevant funding agencies; consulting
with faculty member experts; and
joint development of devices,
patents, and machinery in pursuit of
their mandates and development of
both countries.
THISDAY, MONDAY, DECEMBER 25,
2023- NUC Visits James Hope
Business School Ahead of January
Start: James Hope Business School
hosted a delegation from the
National Universities Commission
(NUC) on a resource verification
exercise, as it prepares for the start of
its Executive MBA programme in
January 2024.
The Vice-Chancellor of James Hope
University Prof. Paul Vita, along with
the Registrar Dr. Uzoma Achugamonu
and the Dean of James Hope
Business School, Prof. Olu Akinkugbe,
welcomed the 3-women delegation
namely; Dr. Esther Mmeka, Professor
Uduak Mbong, and Jolaoso
Motunrayo.
VANGUARD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER
28, 2023- UNILAG Supports 765
Indigent Students, Provides Free
Meals for 40: Following the hard times
in the country occasioned by
g ove r n m e n t p o l i c i es a n d t h e
withdrawal of fuel subsidies, no fewer
than 765 undergraduates of the
University of Lagos, who experienced
difficulties in paying their obligatory
fees are being taken care of by the
management of the institution and
other public-spirited bodies and
individuals.
The 765 indigent students are among
the 32,721 undergraduates currently
registered to pursue various courses
at the university.
Disclosing this recently during a press
parley, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof.
Contd in Pg 5
 Contd From Pg 4

...Education in the Media

Folasade Ogunsola, said among the
affected students, the Office of the
Vice-Chancellor paid the obligatory
fees of 400.
LEADERSHIP, THURSDAY, DECEMBER
28, 2023- NOUN Launches Mobile
App for Students: The Management
of the National Open University of
Nigeria (NOUN) has concluded the
design, development, testing and the
deployment of the NOUN mobile
application for students with a view
to actualising the vision and mission
of the university.
This was contained in a memo signed
by Benedicta A.Otakpor (Admin
Officer 1) on behalf of the Deputy
Vice-Chancellor, (Technology,
Innovation and Research), Prof.
Godwin Akper.
The application, amongst other
considerations, aggregates the
various sections of the university's
portal that are directly related to
students activities such as
Registration, TMA, Announcements,
etc. into a page to further enhance
easy accessibility.

The embarrassing revelation by Umar Audu, Daily Nigerian undercover reporter, who bagged a Cotonou varsity
degree in six weeks and even participated in the NYSC scheme, should be a wake-up call to all lovers of quality
education in Nigeria.
This is a clear vindication of the relentless campaign being made by JAMB against fake degrees with the aim of
ensuring that nobody is admitted into our institutions of learning with fake/unapproved entry requirements or is
allowed to be given an unearned degree/diploma from our institutions in Nigeria.
For those who are righteously outraged by the report, this is an opportunity to join JAMB in the fight against all
forms of infractions in the examination and admission processes.
A number of institutions are disposed to under - the table admission which is a potential ground for criminality. All
and sundry should rise against institutions which offer admission to candidates outside Central Admission
Processing System (CAPS.)

2024 UTME: JAMB ISSUES FREE E-COPY OF READING

TEXT TO CANDIDATES
A s part of the efforts to minimize
the impact of the prevailing
economic situation on
potential candidates, the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation
Board(JAMB)has indicated its
readiness to commence the issuance
of free e-copy of the recommended
reading text to all candidates. This e-
copy of the reading text would be
issued through the Board's website,
candidate's e-mail, candidates'
Profiles and QR codes to be made
available on the registration slip
usually issued to candidates who
successfully complete their
registration.
In a related development, the
Registrar also announced that the
Board is not unaware of the high cost
of running the CBT centres, especially
with the high cost of diesel, and has,
t h e re fo re, a p p ro v e d m i n i m a l
increments pertinent to CBT centre
charges.
F u r t h e r m o re, t h e B o a rd a l s o
disclosed its intention to stop the
practice of paying bank charges for
all its candidates adding that as from
the 2024 UTME registration,
candidates would have to pay these
bank charges on their own.
The Registrar, who dropped this hint
at a virtual meeting held with
Commissioners of Education across
the country, also reminded the
participants that the Board had since
stopped the use of Compact Disks for
accessing its e-Brochure and e-
Syllabuses as QR codes, which are
printed at the back of its approved
reading text, are now available to
access its IBASS platform for these
materials. Alternatively, CBT centres
have also been mandated to paste
these QR codes at strategic locations
w i t h i n t h e i r p re m i ses so t h a t
candidates can access them ahead
of registration.
To give these pieces of information
w i d e cove ra g e, t h e Re g i st ra r
announced that relevant
advertisements would be placed in
both print and electronic media in
due course.

Contd From Pg 1

...2024 UTME/DE REGISTRATION: Anekwe Charges Desk Officers on Rules of Engagement

documents upload, among others, advisories on registration as the responsibilities creditably as any
which could negatively affect the Board will not tolerate any act that erring officer will be decisively dealt
candidates. could mar the exercise. You are, with in line with extant rules,” she
“Whenever in doubt, consult relevant therefore, expected to discharge your stated.

January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61 5

JAMB EXCLUDES DIAGRAMS FROM QUESTIONS FOR BLIND
CANDIDATES
I n line with its inclusivity mantra, the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB)
has excluded diagrams, illustrations and
maps in test items meant for the conduct of the
2024 UTME for candidates with disabilities.
The Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, dropped this
hint in Abuja during a virtual meeting with the
nation's Commissioners of Education.
The Registrar, in his address, pointed out that the
Board would work towards ensuring that
diagrams, illustrations and maps are eliminated in
questions for blind candidates from the 2024
UTME with such questions having the same
difficulty indices as others test items.
F u r t h e r m o re, t h e Re g i s t ra r b r i e fe d t h e
participants with respect to the various concerns
that have been raised about the lack of
adequate attention to the plight of candidates
with other forms of disabilities other than the blind
and deaf in the registration and conduct of the
UTME. He noted that these special provisions are
to ensure that all candidates with disabilities are Opportunity Group(JEOG). The body, according to the
not disadvantaged on account of their situation. Registrar, had been at the forefront of coordinating all matters
He added that the development was in line with relating to candidates with disabilities for the Board.
the resolutions taken at the just-concluded He disclosed that the following categories of candidates
conference titled: "National Conference on Equal would now be listed under the disability group of the
Opportunity of Access to Higher Education in Board:Down Syndrome, Autism, Dyslexia and Attention Deficit
Nigeria", which was organised by JAMB-Equal Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Contd From Pg 1

...JONAPWD Commended Oloyede on Disability - Friendly Initiatives

JONAPWD is the umbrella
organisation of the Disabled, which
was established in 1992 to bring
together all disabled organisations
in Nigeria and has its National
Headquarters in Abuja.
According to him, the gesture would
bring succour to the underserved
members of JONAPWD adding that
the development would be
disseminated to all its members to
take advantage of this golden
opportunity as provided by JAMB. To
this end, he stated that an
estimated 4,000 of their members
are set to benefit from the initiative.
"This waiver is the first of its kind in
this country and goes to show, in
practical terms, that an organisation
is actively advocating inclusivity in
the Nigeria educational system.
Consequently, I am calling on the
Disabled Community in the country
to avail themselves of this unique
o p p o r t u n i t y. We a re a c t u a l l y
expecting at least 4000 students to
benefit from this facility this year
alone with the number increasing in
subsequent years," he declared.
He, therefore, expressed
a p p re c i a t i o n to P ro f. I s - h a q
Oloyede, Registrar, JAMB, for being a
worthy advocate of the Disabled
Community and wished him success
in his tenure of office. Abdullahi Aliyu Usman, National President,
JONAPWD

6 January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61

January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61 7
 2 0 2 1 / 2 0 2 2 R E P O R T O F T E R T I A R Y I N S T I T U T I O N S M AT R I C U L AT I O N A N D

8
JAMB ANALYSIS OF FORWARDED MATRICULATION LIST THESE ARE INSTITUTIONS
THAT HAVE OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED THEIR MATRICULATION LISTS TO JAMB FOR
ANALYSIS AND ARE, THEREFORE ACKNOWLEDGED TO HAVE MATRICULATED FOR THE 2021/2022
ACADEMIC SESSION

January 1 2024
Vol.3 No. 61
Contd in Pg 9
 Contd From Pg 8

January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61 9

10
2 0 2 2 / 2 0 2 3 R E P O R T O F T E R T I A R Y I N S T I T U T I O N S M AT R I C U L AT I O N A N D
JAMB ANALYSIS OF FORWARDED MATRICULATION LIST THESE ARE INSTITUTIONS
THAT HAVE OFFICIALLY SUBMITTED THEIR MATRICULATION LISTS TO JAMB FOR
ANALYSIS AND ARE, THEREFORE ACKNOWLEDGED TO HAVE MATRICULATED FOR THE 2021/2022
ACADEMIC SESSION

January 1 2024
Vol.3 No. 61
Contd in Pg 11
 Contd From Pg 10

Contd in Pg 12

January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61 11

 Contd From Pg 11

12 January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61

FEATURES HEADLINE NEWSLETTER UNDERCOVER:
HOW DAILY NIGERIAN REPORTER BAGGED COTONOU VARSITY DEGREE IN
6 WEEKS, PARTICIPATED IN NYSC SCHEME By Umar Audu
Culled from Daily Nigerian, December 30, 2023
T he story of obtaining
questionable degree
certificates from universities
in Benin Republic and Togo is not
new. What is new, however, is how
these certificates can be obtained
with ease and speed.
Cotonou is not only famous for the
thriving second-hand car business
popularly called 'tokunbo'; it also
serves as a mecca for those in need
of express degrees.
The requirements are O-level
certificates – fake or genuine – and
the required amount of money,
which varies depending on the
course, urgency and class of degree.
And in less than a month or two, one
can be a 'graduate' from any of the
mushroom universities dotted across
the two West African countries.
The beneficiaries of these
substandard certificates, who are
either unintelligent or lazy, compete
for jobs and other opportunities with
h a rd -wo r k i n g g ra d u a tes w h o
undergo academic rigours for at
least four years to obtain their
degrees.
DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that some
use the questionable certificates to
get civil service jobs or aspire for
elective offices, while some of their
peers with hard-earned credentials
languish in joblessness and
hopelessness.
To get first-hand information on how
t h e s e c e r t i f i c a t e r a c ke t e e r s
operate, DAILY NIGERIAN reporter,
Umar Audu, went undercover and
investigated the booming business.
Obtaining a Cotonou degree
In December 2022, our reporter
reached out to a racketeering
syndicate that specialises in selling
the infamous degree certificates
from the neighboring countries to
willing buyers at an 'affordable rate'.
The agent however told our reporter
January 1 2024
the four-year degree programme in
the option of “studying” for a year or less than two months without
month, but he opted for the month application, registration, studying,
option. writing exams or crossing Nigerian
“That's not a problem; we can help. If border.
the money is ready, we can help you But despite having the certificate
out. We have done it for a lot of and transcript in his possession, the
people. If you make the payment reporter had fears they could be
now, the results will be ready next fake, until he discovered a scan code
month,” he assured. placed on the left bottom of the
Our repor ter 's choice of mass transcript. And when the reporter
communication from any “university” scanned through, it directed him to
in Cotonou was premised on the fact the website of ESGT University,
he could easily scale through the indicating that he is a genuine
screening as he had knowledge of product of the institution.
the course. On its website, ESGT, established in
The agent gave the reporter the 2009, said, “It is an institution built
breakdown of the amount to pay, upon a vision that enables
which included tuition fees, an individuals from a mix of different
evaluation letter, a resident permit, nationalities and cultures to get the
immigration stamps at the border best in undergraduate and
post and transportation. postgraduate international
On December 27, 2022, our reporter education.”.
made the payment and was issued a The institution is fully accredited by
payment receipt. both the governments of the Benin
True to the agent's words, the Republic and Nigeria. It offers over
certificate and transcript of Ecole 30 courses in management
sciences, social sciences, applied
S u p e r i e u re d e G e s t i o n e t d e
Technologies, ESGT, Cotonou, Benin and natural sciences as well as
Republic, were delivered to his office technology.
on February 17, 2023. It was gathered that the
racketeering agents in Nigeria work
The degree certificate hand-in-hand with the top
management of the university
The transcript indicated that this campus in Cotonou, whose registrar
reporter commenced the institution and English section coordinator are
in 2018 and graduated on Nigerians.
September 5, 2022. “The evaluation letter doesn't come
Unfortunately, there was a slight from us. It comes from the Ministry of
mistake on the transcript, so it had to Education. They are the ones
be transported back to Cotonou for causing the delay; they want more
correction, and one month later, the bribes, but we are still negotiating
corrected version was received on with them. But please be a little bit
March 29. patient with us; it's a general
Prior to that, this reporter was never problem,” he said in response our
issued an admission letter or knew reporter's complaint over evaluation
about the school the agent was delay.
processing for him. After payment of additional money
All the agenct said was, “don't worry, through the agent, the evaluation
everything will be sorted out.” letter was eventually released. The
Like miracle, our reporter “finished” letter is a mandatory requirement for
Contd in Pg 14
Vol.3 No. 61 13

...Features Headline Newsletter Undercover: How Daily Nigerian Reporter Bagged Cotonou Varsity Degree
in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC Scheme
The degree certificate
NYSC mobilisation.
In separate letters dated May 25
and 26, addressed to the director
general of the National Youth
Service Scheme, NYSC, the Federal
Ministry of Education confirmed that
the ESGT is on the ministry's list of
accredited institutions.
The letter, which was signed on
behalf of the minister by the deputy
director of Evaluation and
Ac c re d i ta t i o n , Ko l i S a l i h u -
Mongodiba, also cleared 51 ESGT
graduates to participate in the
NYSC, “having met all the
requirements set by the ministry”.
“The institution is on the ministry's list
of accredited institutions in Benin,
and the bachelor degrees awarded
to the students as indicated on the
attached list are equivalent to
bachelor degrees awarded by any
Nigerian university in a similar field of
study,” the letter read in part.
DAILY NIGERIAN investigation
reve a l s t h a t a g e n ts of t h ese
mushroom universities connived
with some corrupt officials at the
Federal Ministry of Education to get
evaluation letters for a fee ranging
from N40,000 to N70,000 per
“graduate”.
Double NYSC participation
When the NYSC opened its portal for
2023 Batch B registration in June,
this reporter was afraid that the
system would reject him outright as
he had genuinely participated in the
scheme in the past.
B ut soon af ter he began the
screening, his fears was allayed as
the NYSC seemingly lacked the
digital tool to flag attempts to
14 January 1 2024
participate in the scheme twice or
more.
The only initial obstacle he had was
when he input the email and phone
number he used during his genuine
NYSC registration, a message
popped up saying, “This email and
phone number have already been
registered.” Our reporter then
immediately switched to his
alternative phone number and
email.
He therefore created a new profile,
uploaded all the required
documents, including fingerprints.
T h e n ex t sta g e wa s p h ys i c a l
verification of documents. Usually,
there are two stages of verification —
physical and online evaluation.
On July 3, while registration was
going on smoothly for students who
obtained certificates from less
questionable foreign institutions,
those from Benin Republic and Togo
were subjected to a more thorough
screening exercise.
At that stage, NYSC officials rejected
our reporter's evidence of Cotonou
residency, but after months of back-
and-forth, he was eventually linked
with an immigration official who
facilitated the stamping of his
passport to show evidence of
multiple entry and exit from Seme
Border between 2018 and 2022.
A page in the reporter's passport,
showing exit and entry stamps both
Nigerian and Beninois immigrations.
Although our reporter never crossed
any Nigerian borders, the officer was
able to get his passport stamped by
both Nigerian and Beninois
immigration agents.
After the tedious process, DAILY
NIGERIAN reporter was eventually
cleared for both physical and online
evaluations, and on November 22,
posted to Cross Rivers for one year
service.
My experience at Obubra
I arrived at the orientation camp in
Obubra, a predominantly rice
farming community, at exactly 3:30
p.m. on Sunday, 26, 2023, for the 21-
day orientation course.
Vol.3 No. 61
Contd From Pg 13
On the posting letter ever y
prospective Corp member was
expected to arrive the camp from
Friday November 24 to Sunday
November 26, 2023.
I scheduled my journey for Saturday,
and there was no direct flight going
to Calabar on that day.
So I had to fly to Enugu, from where I
traveled by road for 250 kilometres
before arriving at Obubra.
As expected, we were subjected to
security checks at the gate by
operatives consisting of Nigeria
Police, Nigeria Military, and Nigerian
Security and Civil Defence Corps.
After successful screening at the
gate, we were asked to take a
certain direction where we saw
some NYSC officials who asked us to
write down our names, and
immediately gave us room
allocation.
The registration spot for foreign
graduates is different from that of
home-trained graduates.
The female official I met requested I
bring out all the documents I used in
applying for NYSC, which I obliged. I
was subjected to another round of
w r i tte n a n d o ra l i n te r v i ews. I
answered all the questions
diligently, and I was cleared and
given a tag.
The tags contain my state code and
the platoon number.
I moved to Platoon 9, where I was
deployed. My credentials were
documented and I was given a
complete NYSC kit.
FULLY KITTED: Umar Audu at Obubra
NYSC Orientation Camp, Cross River
State
While accepting the kits with mixed
reactions, I reminisced about the
experience I went through at NYSC
orientation camp in Ede in 2018.
It was a similar process, except that
in 2018 I spent four years to study in a
Nigerian university before being
allowed to par ticipate in the
scheme.
I hurriedly dashed to the hostel to
change my mufti and put on the
approved dress.
Due to the regimented nature of the
Contd in Pg 15

...Features Headline Newsletter Undercover: How Daily Nigerian Reporter Bagged Cotonou Varsity Degree
in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC Scheme
camp activities, the camp director c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f U N E S C O A n d w h e n th e co r res p o n d e n t
and state coordinator, at every
opportunity, would appeal to corps
members with underlying illnesses to
apply for exit if they can't cope with
the stress.
I took the advantage of that offer
and applied for exit after spending
eight days in Obubra Camp.
Where the problem lies
In April 2018, the federal
government, in a bid to tackle the
menace of the proliferation of
substandard degrees, announced
the blacklisting of some
questionable institutions in Benin,
Cameron, Ghana, and Togo.
Adamu Adamu, the then minister of
education, set up a 16-member
c o m m i tte e to s c re e n 4 0,0 0 0
Nigerians with degrees obtained
from foreign tertiary institutions.
But despite the measures, the
business seems to be thriving – no
thanks to corrupt officials in the
Federal Ministry of Education,
Nigerian Immigration Services, and
other government agencies who
collect bribes to lower the bar.
A source familiar with the working of
the syndicate blamed the
Department of Education Support
Services at the Federal Ministry of
Education for the high rate of the
“importation” of shady degrees into
the country.
The source said the department,
headed by Giginna Lydia Ifeyinwa,
had granted accreditation to
institutions that have failed to meet
the required standard.
He noted that almost all the
universities attended by Nigerians in
Benin and Togo lack the necessary
approval to offer courses in English
language, and they operate in
Umar Audu, DAILY NIGERIAN reporter at
NYSC Orientation CAMP
January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61
declaration of language instruction.
“None of these mushroom
universities have the accreditation to
offer courses in English language.
“The former minister of education
Adamu Adamu once dispatched
some officials of the ministry to
Cotonou, and Togo on a fact-finding
mission.
“The team, which was led by a former
director of Education Support
Services, Justina Ibe, discovered
that there was no university in
Cotonou that had the approval to
offer courses in English Language.
“They also discovered that most of
the institutions offered health
related courses despite not having
laboratories and other facilities to
offer such courses.
“So the evaluation unit stopped
evaluating certificates of pharmacy,
medical lab sciences nursing and
others until a team of NYSC, ministry
and the relevant professional bodies
visited the country and ascertain the
standard of the university.
“ P r e s e n t l y, t h e m i n i s t r y h a s
evaluated certificates of pharmacy
a n d m e d i ca l l a b a wa rd e d by
Bilingual University Togo, contrary to
ministerial directives.
“Another challenge is that some of
the experts in the evaluation and
accreditation division who
understand the job have been
transferred out of the unit. Most of
the officials in that division now are
grossly inexperienced.
“Is it surprising that there are no
Arabic or French language experts in
that unit, and these are people who
easily evaluate French and Arabic
certificates,” said the source.
Federal Ministry of education, NYSC,
NIS react
When contacted for response, the
director of Press and Public Relations
of the Ministry of Education, Bem
Goong, requested our
correspondent show him all the
d o c u m e n ts u s e d i n t h e 0 ĺ l l p p
investigation before he could
respond.
Contd From Pg 14
politely declined, he dared him to go
ahead and publish the report.
He said: “But if you are saying
someone committed that kind of
academic fraud and is known to the
Ministry of Education, I will require
evidence to dig deeper. And if you
can't provide those documents, you
can please go ahead and publish
your report.”
On his part, the NYSC director of
Press and Public Affairs, Eddy
Megwa, said the scheme is aware of
the activities of some Nigerians to
cut corners in their bid to participate
in the youth service.
Mr Megwa boasted that it would be
almost impossible for any person to
beat the NYSC integrated ICT
system.
He said, “What you said is part of
what NYSC is contending with.
Ordinarily, we shouldn't have any
reason to scrutinize any graduate
from a tertiary institution outside the
country, especially when one is
accredited by the Federal Ministry of
Education.
“But overtime, we discovered that
some so-called graduates cannot
even express themselves; they
cannot even write a simple
sentence. That raised the curiosity of
the NYSC.
“If you say you are a foreign-trained
graduate, NYSC will now subject you
to a little test, to know if you are
actually a graduate. Since the
inception of NYSC, we have not
done this.
“B ut when we discovered the
problem, NYSC sat up and began to
ensure thorough scrutiny in our
screening.
“After training in camp, you will send
them to go and teach in a secondary
school, and the person can't say a
single sentence. They begin to
speak in broken English. That
defames the image of the Nigerian
nation, not NYSC, because we don't
train them. We receive graduates
from institutions.
“And in every human endeavour, you
can only do your best; attaining that
point of perfection is another thing.
Contd in Pg 16
15

...Features Headline Newsletter Undercover: How Daily Nigerian Reporter Bagged Cotonou Varsity Degree
in 6 weeks, participated in NYSC Scheme
But it would be very difficult for
anybody to beat the procedure we
have put in place,” he said.
Unbeknownst to Mr Megwa that our
reporter had previously served, he
said it's almost impossible for
anybody to participate in the NYSC
twice.
“We have an integrated ICT system.
Once you are captured in our
database and you come back to
register again, our system will
indicate that this person has served
before. Except if the person will
c h a n g e h i s t h u m b, w h i c h i s
practically impossible,” he said.
According to the NYSC spokesman,
even in Nigeria, some institutions are
involved in degree racketeering.
“Even some universities and
polytechnics in Nigeria engage in
such activities. You will see bread
and groundnut sellers giving money
to student affairs officers, and they
will enroll their names as if they have
2024 UTME: NO INCREASE IN REGISTRATION FEE
T he attention of the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation
FEATURES HEADLINE NEWSLETTER UNDERCOVER:
B o a rd ( JA M B) h a s b e e n
drawn to several publications in
HOW DAILY NIGERIAN REPORTER BAGGED COTONOU VARSITY DEGREE IN
recent times insinuating that the
Board has increased its examination
6 WEEKS, PARTICIPATED IN NYSC SCHEME By Umar Audu
registration fee.
Culled from Daily Nigerian, December 30, 2023
This is far from the truth as the cost of
o b t a i n i n g t h e B o a r d 's U T M E
application documents remains
N3,500, which has been the cost of
its application documents since it
was brought down from N5000 in
2018. Therefore, the Board wishes to
state that the cost of application
documents price has not been
increased in spite of the prevailing
economic reality in the country
which has also affected the cost of
the Board's operations.
Consequently, the Board wishes to
assure the general public that the
Board had been doing all within its
powers to ensure that candidates
are not overburdened in anyway.
O n e of t h ese m e a s u res i s to
deliberately keep cost low hence its
16 January 1 2024
gone through the system. And of
course, they will push them down to
NYSC. Some institutions were found
culpable, and the people involved
were punished severely. All these
things have now gone down,” he
added.
But the spokesperson for the Seme
Border Command of the Nigerian
Immigration Service, Enoch Aparshe,
d e n i e d k n ow l e d g e t h a t so m e
officers at the command were
granting entry and exit clearance
without physically assessing the
passport holders.
“I'm not aware that our officials
engage in such nefarious acts, and
all I know is that it is the Ministry of
Education that validates their
certificates.
“At the Seme border here, we don't
backdate stamps. International
passports are digitised, and the
stamps are issued in such a way that
you cannot backdate them.
decision to make available its Use of
English reading text free of charge
through a QR code to ensure that
the increase in cost of production is
not passed to candidates. Therefore,
all UTME candidates would access
the reading text free of charge
through multiple channels, which
include their profiles, e-mail address,
notification slip and the Board's
website.
It is, however, pertinent to state the
fact that what is being perceived in
some quarters as increment in its
fees is nothing other than the fallout
of its cashless policy through which
all fees payable by candidates to
CBT centres have been
consolidated and are paid along
with their application fees to prevent
t h e i r wa n to n ex p l o i ta t i o n by
unscrupulous centre owners. These
fees are in turn remitted to
partnering centres on a weekly
basis. For instance, candidates are
expected to pay N700 for
registration, N1500 as examination
Vol.3 No. 61
Contd From Pg 15
“And for the ECOWAS passport,
which is manual, it is very unlikely,
and I am not sure any immigration
personnel will want to engage in
such risk, at the detriment of their
job,” he added.
ESGT — the foreign university that
awarded our reporter a degree —
did not respond to DAILY NIGERIAN
email on the matter.
This report was supported by Wole
Soyinka Center for Investigative
Journalism, WSCIJ, in collaboration
with
This is quite revealing, it revealed the
corruption in our education system,
the weaknesses of the NYSC in
erradicaing illegal Candidates. The
question is how on earth do we get
to this mess. Both NUC and federal
ministry of education are both
culprit in these whole scam called
graduate.
fees and N1500 for the optional
Mock-UTME at privately - owned
centres.
It is also worthy to note that the
Board had been resisting the call by
its partnering and privately-owned
centres for a drastic increase in the
cost of the services they render to
the candidates as a consequence of
the current economic situation to
w h i c h t h e B o a rd h a s a l w a ys
maintained that its services are not
for profit.
For the avoidance of doubt, the
2024 UTME/DE e-PIN remains
N3500. The registration fee of N700,
which is to be paid to CBT centres by
candidates, is now to be collected
by the Board along with N1500,
which is the cost for sitting the main
UTME, and N1500 as the cost of the
optional Mock-UTME etc are to be
collected by the Board on behalf of
the CBT centres.
REGISTRAR OF JAMB, PROF. IS-HAQ OLOYEDE INSPECTS PROJECT CURE
FACILITIES AT FMC AZARE, BAUCHI STATE

January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61 17

16 January 1 2024 Vol.3 No. 61
 ATTENTION!!!
CESSATION OF ILLEGAL/IRREGULAR ADMISSIONS
All applications of admissions to First Degree, National Diploma,
National Innovation Diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education
into Full-Time, Distance Learning, Part-Time, Outreach, Sandwich,
etc., must be processed ONLY through the Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB).
No Institution should advertise or sell “application forms” for
admissions into the programmes. Institutions should advertise
candidates to apply to them through Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB). Duplication of application forms is NOT
allowed.
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the three (3)
Regulatory Agencies (National Universities Commission (NUC),
National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National
Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) will ensure that all
Tertiary Institutions comply with this policy directive. Other
Professional Regulatory Agencies will also play a role in sanitizing the
process.

The duration of all Non-Full Time Studies must be maintained as

approved by the Regulatory Agencies. This is generally not less than
one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the equivalence of Full Time.

ADVERTORIALS
Institutions that desire to place advertisement can do so with the
requirement that candidates who sat for the current UTME (or DE
candidates) should change to their institutions as First (1st) Choice
rather than requesting the candidates to purchase another application
form or apply. This is to prevent the issue of double registration which is
a violation of the mandate of JAMB.
It should be reiterated that no Institution should advertise or sell
“application forms” for admissions into the programmes listed above.
Institutions should advise candidates to apply to them through Joint
Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Duplication of application
forms is NOT allowed.