Godsent Ogbebor – Abuja Correspondent
Minister Nnaji Resigns Amid Certificate Controversy, UNN Denies Issuing Degree
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet following controversy surrounding his academic credentials from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
President Tinubu accepted Nnaji’s resignation on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, stepped down after the university publicly denied issuing him a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry, contrary to his earlier claims.
In his resignation letter, Nnaji thanked the President for the opportunity to serve and attributed his decision to what he described as “politically motivated blackmail.”
The controversy deepened over the weekend when UNN, through its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, confirmed that although Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there was no record of his graduation from the institution.
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Court filings later revealed that the former minister had admitted under oath that he was never issued a degree certificate by the university.
The documents, filed before Justice Hauwa Yilwa of the Federal High Court in Abuja, showed that Nnaji acknowledged the university’s stance but maintained that his certificate was withheld due to administrative issues.
The University, however, stated in a letter to the Public Complaints Commission in May 2025 that a review of its 1985 graduation records found no trace of Nnaji’s name.
The development follows months of public scrutiny since his nomination in 2023, when questions first arose about the authenticity of his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials.
President Tinubu, while accepting his resignation, thanked Nnaji for his contributions and wished him success in future endeavours.
The episode has once again stirred national debate on the integrity of public officeholders’ credentials and the growing demand for accountability in leadership appointments.
