The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has dismissed allegations that he forged his university and NYSC certificates.
Nnaji, an Enugu state-born politician, described the reports as “deliberate misinformation driven by politics.”
At a press conference on Monday in Abuja, his spokesman, Robert Ngwu, said Nnaji is a proud alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry in 1985.
Ngwu said the university had, in an official letter dated December 21, 2023, confirmed that “Mr. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, with registration number 1981/30725, was admitted in 1981 to study Microbiology/Biochemistry and graduated in July 1985 with a Bachelor of Science, Second Class (Honours) Lower Division.”
He said the letter, duly signed by I.A.S. Onyeador for the registrar, was the only authentic communication issued by the institution on the matter and that it remains valid and verifiable.
The spokesperson accused some university officials of conspiring with “political actors” to discredit the minister, following the emergence of two People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members as acting vice-chancellor and vice-chancellor in 2025.
He added that the minister had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to protect his records after learning of attempts to tamper with his academic file.
According to him, Justice H.J. Yilwa granted injunctions restraining UNN from “tampering with or continuing to tamper with” Nnaji’s academic records and compelling the release of his transcripts.
“This episode is not about education or integrity. It is about political desperation disguised as academic inquiry.
Nigerians are wiser than that — the facts are before the court, and the truth cannot be buried under propaganda,” he said.
He said Nnaji remained committed to his duties and would not be distracted by what he called a “coordinated smear campaign.”
“The minister is focused on advancing innovation, building science and technology capacity, and restoring confidence in research-driven growth,” Ngwu said.
