Massive NYSC Certificate Fraud: How Blacklisted Benin Universities Use Nigerian Polytechnics to Bypass Regulations

A major education scandal has been uncovered involving blacklisted universities in the Benin Republic and some Nigerian private polytechnics working together to smuggle unqualified graduates into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The discovery reveals a deep-rooted network of certificate manipulation and exploitation targeting unsuspecting students.

What’s Happening

Some universities in the Benin Republic that were banned by the Nigerian government have been partnering with private polytechnics in Nigeria. These foreign universities, whose degrees were decertified for NYSC and official recognition, are allegedly using polytechnics to issue National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates to their graduates.

Through this arrangement, students who initially graduated from unapproved foreign institutions are being mobilized for NYSC as though they completed accredited polytechnic programs in Nigeria.

How the Scam Works

1. Blacklisting: Dozens of Benin Republic and Togo universities were blacklisted after investigations revealed that degrees could be obtained in just a few weeks.
2. Degree Conversion: When these degrees lost legitimacy, some graduates allegedly turned to Nigerian polytechnics to obtain ND or HND certificates without attending any classes.
3. Certificate Payments: Students reportedly pay around ₦400,000 for these certificates, and in some cases, additional money is requested to fix admission records or O’Level results.
4. NYSC Enrollment: The fraudulent certificates are then used to process NYSC mobilization through official polytechnic senate lists, making the graduates appear legitimate.

Impact and Figures

From 2019 to 2023, it was discovered that over 21,000 individuals were mobilized for NYSC using fake or manipulated certificates from foreign universities in Benin and Togo. Many of them had never attended the Nigerian polytechnics whose names appeared on their NYSC documents.

Responses and Denials

The NYSC management stated that it was unaware of such collaborations and emphasized that all foreign-trained graduates must be cleared by the Federal Ministry of Education before participating in the program.

The Ministry of Education also noted that its verification system is now digital, making manipulation difficult. Officials challenged anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to come forward.

Similarly, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) denied having any record of such institutional partnerships but pledged to take swift action if proof of misconduct is presented.

The Bigger Picture

Education experts warn that this development poses a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s academic and professional systems. Fraudulent certificates undermine the efforts of genuine graduates and distort the integrity of both polytechnics and NYSC.

Graduates found using fake or backdated certificates risk job loss, public disgrace, or legal action once the fraud is detected. Employers are now being urged to verify credentials thoroughly before recruitment to prevent the hiring of unqualified candidates.

The Way Forward

To address this growing issue, stakeholders have suggested that the Nigerian government tighten verification processes for both local and foreign qualifications. Measures such as digital identity checks, transcript authentication, and strict database cross-referencing between ministries and institutions should be strengthened.

There are also calls for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and Benin Republic’s education authorities to ensure that only accredited schools are allowed to operate and that fraudulent institutions are permanently shut down.