The Federal Government has shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating without approval nationwide.
Authorities say the move will protect students and restore integrity to Nigeria’s education system.
The Federal Government, through the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), has closed down 22 illegal Colleges of Education discovered during a nationwide crackdown on unaccredited institutions.
In a statement, the Commission confirmed that the action followed a comprehensive personnel audit and financial monitoring exercise across the 21 federal Colleges of Education.
The affected institutions were found to be operating without approval, raising concerns over the credibility of certificates issued to unsuspecting students.
This development comes weeks after President Bola Tinubu directed regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the NCCE, to intensify efforts to eliminate illegal higher institutions in the country.
Speaking at the 14th convocation ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, warned against what he described as “certificate millers” undermining the education system.
“At this juncture, it has become imperative to reiterate that this administration remains committed to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in the administration of education to enhance efficiency and quality,” the President stated.
He emphasised that organizations like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) are collaborating to eliminate forgery and discredited institutions, both domestically and internationally, from Nigeria’s educational landscape.
The Federal Government has assured that the shutdown of illegal institutions is part of a wider reform aimed at restoring integrity to the nation’s academic system and protecting students from exploitation.
