The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, on Monday pleaded with the authorities of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), to immediately release his academic transcript, escalating a long-running controversy over the authenticity of his degree certificate.
The Minister, who stands accused of submitting a forged certificate upon his appointment in 2023, defended himself at a media briefing in Abuja and insisted the university was engaging in politically motivated actions.
Chief Nnaji, speaking through his spokesman, asserted that he earned a B.Sc. degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry with second-class honors (lower division) in 1985, and that the university has no right to withhold the vital document.
Accusations of Political Tampering
Nnaji accused the university authorities of attempting to tarnish his reputation by issuing conflicting reports regarding his academic status, claiming the Vice-Chancellor was acting to “satisfy a governor, who wants him out of office so as to enhance his political position.”
He expressed shock that after the university initially attested to his graduation in 2023, the same institution later claimed there was no record of his completion in May 2025.
The Minister argued the integrity of the institution was at stake due to its actions.
”This is not about one man’s record—it is about protecting truth, preserving institutional honour, and ensuring that no university in Nigeria ever becomes a pawn in partisan politics,” Nnaji stated.
Transcript Becomes Central Issue
The Minister confirmed he has instituted a legal challenge against the Vice-Chancellor and UNN management to compel the release of the document, even though a Federal High Court recently rejected his application for an injunction that would have stopped the university from releasing his academic records to any party.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings compelling the university to release the transcript, Nnaji regretted that the Vice-Chancellor has refused to comply, maintaining a “politically motivated media trial” against him.
The request for the transcript comes as UNN officials, in recent letters cited in court filings, have claimed they cannot confirm that Chief Nnaji completed his studies or was issued a degree certificate.
