Certificate Controversy: Enugu Government Distances Itself from Minister’s Academic Credentials Dispute
The Enugu State Government has officially distanced itself from the ongoing certificate forgery allegations surrounding Chief Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, emphasizing that the minister must address these claims independently.
In an official statement released Monday in Enugu, Mr. Chukwuemeka Nebo, Director of Information in the Ministry of Information and Communication, firmly stated that the state government has no involvement in the controversy regarding the minister’s academic credentials.
The situation intensified when Chief Nnaji failed to appear at his own scheduled press conference on Monday at 2:00 pm, where journalists had gathered expecting direct answers about his academic qualifications. Instead, representatives appeared on his behalf, unable to adequately address reporters’ questions.
Several critical questions remain unanswered regarding the minister’s academic history, including:
– The authenticity of a University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) degree certificate allegedly presented to the Senate, particularly given his court affidavit stating UNN never issued him a certificate
– Discrepancies regarding his claimed July 1985 graduation and subsequent applications to retake a Virology course (MCB 431) in September 1985
– Questions about a November 8, 1985 university letter indicating his failure in the supplementary examination
– His January 1986 application to retake the examination, including a N4.00 resit fee
Additional concerns have emerged regarding his NYSC documentation:
– An unusual 13-month service period allegedly starting three months before graduation
– A discharge certificate reportedly signed by Col. Animashaun Braimoh, who wasn’t NYSC CEO during the stated period
– The presence of an alphabetic character in his NYSC certificate number, which wasn’t standard practice until after 1990
The state government emphasized that these matters require direct clarification from Chief Nnaji himself, rather than through intermediaries. “The Honourable Minister must carry his own cross and clear his name before Nigerians, instead of dragging the government into issues that are entirely personal to him,” Mr. Nebo stated.
The controversy has raised significant questions about the verification process for high-level government appointments and the importance of academic credential authentication in public service.
