The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has expressed support for the Federal Government’s decision to commence compulsory nationwide verification of academic credentials, describing it as a crucial step toward curbing certificate racketeering and restoring integrity to the country’s education system.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the President and Chairman of Council of NIM, Commodore Abimbola Ayuba (retd.), said the initiative— to be implemented through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS) under the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank— would enhance transparency and accountability.
“This move mandates that both existing and prospective staff in public and private institutions must obtain National Credential Verification Service clearance before their appointments can be confirmed. Each verified credential will be assigned a National Credential Number with security codes to ensure traceability and authenticity,” Ayuba said.
He added that fake certificates had flourished for years due to weak verification processes that were frequently compromised, stressing that the NCVS offered a robust solution.
According to him, the strength of the policy lies in its ability to link decentralised institutional databases into a federated system while preserving the autonomy of individual institutions.
The institute called on all stakeholders to support the exercise, describing it as a joint effort between tertiary institutions and regulatory agencies to provide a one-stop platform where every academic credential can be authenticated and digitally traced.
The NCVS, which was launched in March 2025 by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, following Federal Executive Council approval, will officially take effect on October 6.
Government officials say the system is designed to ensure that fake degrees, phoney honours, and diploma mills no longer undermine Nigeria’s academic credibility.
