The Federal Government has officially blacklisted 18 foreign universities operating in Nigeria and issued a cautionary advisory against Nigerians enrolling in such institutions.
This decision follows an investigative report revealing how an undercover reporter obtained a university degree from a Cotonou-based university in six weeks and participated in the NYSC scheme.
The Ministry of Education had previously suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Togo and Benin Republic universities.
The National University Commission, in a statement on its website, referred to the blacklisted foreign universities as ‘degree mills’ and highlighted their lack of licensing by the Federal Government, leading to their closure for violating the Education (National Minimum Standards, etc.) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The affected institutions encompass five universities from the United States, three from the Republic of Benin, six from the United Kingdom, and three from Ghana.
The list of the 18 foreign universities banned from operating in Nigeria includes:
1. University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
2. Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana, or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
3. The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
4. Collumbus University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
5. Tiu International University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
6. Pebbles University, UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
7. London External Studies UK, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
8. Pilgrims University, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
9. West African Christian University, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
10. EC-Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos Study Centre.
11. Concept College/Universities (London), Ilorin, or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
12. Houdegbe North American University, campuses in Nigeria.
13. Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
14. University of Education, Winneba Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
15. Cape Coast University, Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
16. African University Cooperative Development, Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
17. Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre.
18. Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.