FG Dismisses Viral Reports Claiming NUC Uncovered 2,000 Universities And Fake Professors

 The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed viral reports alleging that the National Universities Commission identified 2,000 universities and uncovered approximately 100 fake professors across Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the government condemned the claims as recycled misinformation designed to mislead the public and discredit the nation’s higher education system. The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, maintained that the NUC has never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in the country nor published, endorsed, or authenticated any list of individuals circulating online as fake professors.

According to the ministry, the allegations regarding fake professors represent a heavily distorted version of a media report originally published on December 3, 2019, which detailed an NUC verification exercise for full professors in Nigerian universities. Officials stressed that the original report never contained the specific names currently being shared online, which the commission has repeatedly disowned.

Expressing deep concern over the persistence of these fabricated claims, the ministry argued that the reports are calculated to erode public trust in Nigerian academia and frustrate ongoing reform efforts aimed at strengthening quality assurance. Consequently, the federal government has urged members of the public, media outlets, and social media users to disregard the claims and rely exclusively on official NUC channels for information regarding recognized universities and academic standards.

The ministry reaffirmed its unyielding commitment to supporting the NUC in safeguarding academic integrity, protecting institutional credibility, and preserving the global reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.