President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s (UNN) formal disowning of his degree certificate.
Nnaji, appointed in August 2023, submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday, citing blackmail by political opponents as a factor behind his decision. The resignation was announced in a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The controversy intensified after PREMIUM TIMES reported last Saturday that UNN declared Nnaji never graduated from the institution nor was issued the Bachelor of Science certificate he claimed to hold.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon U. Ortuanya, confirmed that while Nnaji gained admission in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry, the records do not show he completed his studies or graduated.
Court documents reviewed revealed that Nnaji himself admitted to not receiving a degree certificate, despite claiming completion of his programme in 1985. His affidavit detailed disputes with the university’s administration over certificate issuance.
A letter previously issued by UNN in December 2023, confirming Nnaji’s graduation, has since been invalidated after it was found to be inconsistent with official records. UNN Registrar Celine Nnebedum later informed the Public Complaints Commission that no record of Nnaji’s graduation exists.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude for Nnaji’s service and wished him well in future pursuits.
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