The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said the Federal Government will no longer tolerate the operations of illegal satellite campuses and affiliations with foreign unaccredited universities,” implying that the days of “Boys Quarter” degrees are over and for good.”

Adamu, said, this is in line with the present administration’s quest for ensuring that Nigerian students obtain foreign qualifications that are internationally competitive, and of high academic and moral excellence.

The Minister stated this on Thursday in Abuja when he inaugurated the 34th meeting of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on the evaluation of foreign qualifications.

He said the Standing Committee was constituted for the purpose of determining the Nigerian equivalent of certificates and degrees of foreign institutions.

Adamu directed the Committee to ensure that “the quality ground work already laid for evaluation is progressively improved upon in such a manner that inspires national and international confidence”.

He expressed hope that the outcome of the Committee’s proceedings will “improve the protocol of evaluating foreign education certificates and other related issues.”

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Arch. Sonny Echono, revealed that the Standing Committee was constituted to evaluate the Nigerian equivalent of academic diplomas and degrees obtained from Eastern European countries.

He, however, lamented that the advent of distance learning and establishment of numerous sub-standard tertiary institutions in the country have made the situation more complex.

Echono also explained that government in its quest to make the evaluation process less cumbersome, has dedicated an online portal, www.ess.education.gov.ng, to which applicants can now send their requests.

He subsequently urged members of the Standing Committee to put in their best in ensuring that the menace of illegal foreign certificates is eradicated.

Speaking earlier, Director Education Support Service department of the Ministry Dr. Lydia Giginna, expressed hopes that full compliance with the new protocol will complement the Ministry’s efforts aimed at reducing the use of ‘illegitimate and forged foreign degree certificates in the country.

©NAN