The Traffic

🚫 FG Shuts 22 Illegal Colleges of Education in Nationwide Crackdown

 The Federal Government has intensified its war against “certificate mills,” shutting down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country. The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) disclosed the move in a report detailing its recent achievements. The commission said the discovery followed a nationwide crackdown on unlicensed institutions. “The NCCE identified and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country. The commission also conducted personnel audits and financial monitoring in all the 21 federal colleges of education,” the report stated. Tinubu Orders Clampdown on Fake Institutions The action comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu directed education regulatory agencies to stamp out illegal higher institutions. Speaking at the 14th Convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria in Abuja, Tinubu—represented by Rakiya Ilyasu, Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education—warned against the growing menace of “certificate millers” undermining the sector. “The integrity of our academic system must not be compromised,” the President said, stressing that the government is committed to strengthening regulatory oversight. Unified Front Against Academic Fraud Tinubu also announced closer collaboration among education agencies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and the NCCE, to ensure that forged certificates and unrecognized institutions are eliminated. “This administration remains committed to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in education to enhance efficiency and quality,” he said. Why It Matters The closure of 22 illegal colleges is part of broader efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s higher education system, restore public confidence, and ensure that graduates entering the labour market hold qualifications that meet global standards.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna