Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned. Nigerian Minister Resigns Days after Being Accused of Forging His Academic Credentials His abrupt resignation comes days after claims emerged that he forged his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificates. The BBC reported that an investigation claimed Nnaji submitted falsified certificates to President Bola Tinubu during his ministerial appointment in 2023. . Did the president accept Geoffrey Nnaji’s resignation In a statement on X, President Tinubu accepted Nnaji’s resignation, thanking him for his service to the country.
In his resignation letter to the president, the embattled minister claimed he was being blackmailed by his political opponents. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him. “President Tinubu appointed Nnaji in August 2023. He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria. Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents. President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours,” Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President said. The embattled minister insisted that he did graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with a degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry.
However, UNN said they had no records confirming that the minister had graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1985. Preliminary investigations established that Nnaji Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but never completed his studies or received a certificate. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) also said the mandatory certificate of national service Nnaji presented in April 2023 could not be verified. His exit raises deeper questions about Nigeria’s vetting system, accountability, and what integrity still means in public service.
By Amos Khaemba
