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The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has rejected the degree certificate displayed by Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, the minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, stating that he did not actually graduate from the university, as reported in a news piece by Premium Times.

As per the report, the disclosure comes after a two-year inquiry that uncovered that both the Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and microbiology and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate held by the minister are fake.

Nnaji has been accused of falsifying credentials since July 2023, following President Bola Tinubu’s selection of him as one of the initial 28 ministers in his administration.

Reviewers claimed he did not finish his education at UNN and had never taken part in the NYSC program.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, Professor Simon U. Ortuanya, the vice chancellor of UNN, validated those concerns, as stated in the report.

The letter stated, ‘We can confirm that Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, who has the Matriculation Number 1981/30725, was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1981.’

Based on all available documentation, we are unable to verify that Mr. Nnaji graduated in July 1985, as there are no records indicating he completed his studies. The University did not and therefore could not have issued the claimed certificate.

The university’s statement came as a reply to a Freedom of Information (FoI) inquiry from the newspaper and supported a previous acknowledgment by its registrar to the Public Complaints Commission in May 2025 that Nnaji’s name was not listed on the 1985 graduation list.

During his Senate confirmation hearing on August 1, 2023, Nnaji informed legislators that he earned his degree from UNN in 1985 and finished his NYSC in Jos the subsequent year.

His resume was repeated at his inauguration later that month, when Ajuri Ngelale, the presidential spokesman at the time, publicly read it aloud.

However, a more detailed examination of the papers he provided to the Senate soon sparked doubts.

The newspaper claimed to have acquired his documents from legislators and conducted a forensic examination. Both the degree and NYSC certificates revealed significant discrepancies.

The NYSC certificate, issued on May 15, 1986, was signed by Colonel Animashaun Braimoh, who took up the position of director of the corps in 1988.

At the moment the document was allegedly issued, the NYSC was headed by Colonel Edet Akpan, according to the report.

It also carried the title “National Director,” a term that was not present in 1986.

The leader of the organization was referred to as “Director” until the early 1990s.

The serial number, A231309, was equally questionable.

Alphabets were not incorporated into the NYSC certificate numbering system until many years later.

Certificates from the 1980s had only six digits, as stated in the report.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect was the length of service: the certificate stated that Nnaji served from April 1985 to May 1986, which amounts to 13 months. The NYSC has consistently been a 12-month program.

The academic credential was equally questionable.

Although it appeared authentic at first glance, it had a graduation date of July 1985.

However, the NYSC document stated that he started his service in April of that year, three months prior to completing university — which is not possible.

His first name was also incorrectly spelled as “Geoffery” rather than “Geoffrey.”

The newspaper stated that its journalists advanced the inquiry.

At the NYSC headquarters, senior officials verified upon reviewing internal documents that no certificate was ever issued to Nnaji.

The unit later officially addressed a September 2023 query, stating that it had no documentation of his service.

At the University of Nsukka, staff members remembered that he enrolled during the 1981/82 academic term but faced academic difficulties, failing important subjects like Virology (MCB 431AB).

Due to multiple missed chances for resitting, the university recommended that he leave.

Journalists found a letter he had sent to the organization as late as May 1986, asking for another opportunity to retake a final course that was still pending.

His request was rejected.

An official program for the 1985 graduation ceremony, obtained by Premium Times, confirmed that he was not part of that year’s graduates.