The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, has resigned from office following mounting allegations of certificate forgery, a development confirmed by the Presidency on Tuesday evening.
Nnaji’s resignation, which brings an abrupt end to his tenure that began in August 2023, came after an investigation revealed inconsistencies in his academic credentials, including a Bachelor of Science degree and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), had reportedly disowned the degree certificate he presented.
The resignation was confirmed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had accepted the decision.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him,” Onanuga stated in a post on X. “He resigned today in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria.”
In his resignation letter, the former Minister attributed his decision to what he termed a campaign of “blackmail.”
Onanuga further quoted the former Minister as saying he had “been a target of blackmail by political opponents.”
President Tinubu acknowledged the Minister’s departure, with Onanuga adding that the President “thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours.”
The scandal erupted after reports alleged that Nnaji had submitted counterfeit academic documents to the Presidency and the Senate during his ministerial screening. This incident is expected to intensify calls for greater transparency and stricter vetting procedures for political appointees.
