This is indeed not the best of time for the Minister of Science and Innovation, following his alleged certificates forgery.
Mr. Uchenna Nnaji was said to have forged both his degree and National Youths Service Corps, NYSC certificates.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the allegation started few months after the 2023 general elections, which the minister contested for the gubernatorial seat in Enugu state under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC.
The recent investigation report is the outcome of the two-year investigation by an online newspaper, Premium Times alleging that the minister allegedly forged his certificates.
Recall that an online newspaper, Premium Times, has revealed that Nnaji’s university certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate were allegedly forged.
The report by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka UNN was quoted as a response to a freedom of information sent by the newspaper.
According to the report, it stated that though Nnaji was admitted in the Ivory Tower 1981, there is no record that the minister completed his studies or graduated in July 1985, as his Bachelor’s degree certificate claims.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that in a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, UNN disassociated itself from the certificate being currently paraded by the minister.
The letter partly read this; “From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology. This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter,” the letter was quoted.
2023 UNN report on Uchenna Nnaji
The recent report by the institution has contradicted the earlier report it issued in 2023, confirming the authenticity of Nnaji’s degree result.
Recall that on October 24, 2023, The People’s Gazette made a request to the university for the auntheication of the minister’s degree result.
In its response in a letter dated 21/12/23, the institution confirmed the authenticity of the result.
In the letter entitled RE: ENQUIRY FROM PEOPLE’S GAZETTE: GEOFFREY UCHECHUKWU NNAJI and signed by I.A.S Onyeado for the Registrar reads thus.
“Your e mail dated October 24, 2023, on the above subject refers.
This is to confirm that Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji with registration number 1981/30725 was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985 with Bachelor Second Class (Hons) lower division.”
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