Nigeria has banned 18 foreign universities within its borders, labelling them “degree mills.”
On Tuesday, Nigeria’s National Universities Commission (NUC) announced the ban on its website, citing an undercover investigation carried out by Umar Audu, who graduated from ESGT in Cotonou with a degree in Mass Communication in six weeks and participated in a mandatory NYSC program for one year.
NUC, the Nigerian regulatory body for higher education, explained that the affected universities have been closed due to non-licensed by the Federal Government and violations of education standards.
“The National Universities Commission wishes to announce to the general public, especially parents and prospective undergraduates, that the under-listed “degree mills” have not been licenced by the Federal Government and have therefore been closed down for violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” NUC said.
The affected universities span three countries: five from the United States, six from the United Kingdom, and three from Ghana.
The blacklisted institutions include: the University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; the International University, Missouri, USA, Kano, and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; and the Collumbus University, United Kingdom, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria; Tiu International University, UK; Pebbles University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria; London External Studies UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pilgrims University, operating anywhere in Nigeria; West African Christian University, operating anywhere in Nigeria; EC-Council University, USA; Ikeja, Lagos Study Centre; and Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria; Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria: Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria; University of Education Winneba, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria; African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria; Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre and Evangel University of America & Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.