UNN Disciplines Registrar Over False Letter on Uche Nnaji’s Academic Record

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has commenced formal disciplinary proceedings against its Registrar, Mrs. Nnebedum Celine Ngozi, in connection with allegations of issuing a false official letter confirming the academic qualifications of former Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Mr. Uche Nnaji.

This disciplinary action follows revelations that the Registrar’s office released a letter to Peoples Gazette in December 2023 which inaccurately stated that Mr. Nnaji graduated from UNN in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology/Biochemistry (Second Class Lower Division). This statement was intended to defend Mr. Nnaji amid growing controversies over his academic credentials, which have since been exposed as dubious.

Mr. Nnaji came under intense scrutiny following investigative reports by Peoples Gazette in 2023 and 2024 that revealed multiple discrepancies in his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) documents, including inconsistent spellings of his name, conflicting graduation and mobilization dates, and his name’s absence from official graduation lists. These allegations culminated in an ongoing court case lodged by political adversaries challenging the authenticity of his credentials.

In a decisive response to the mounting pressure, Mr. Nnaji resigned from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet on Wednesday, October 7, 2025. His resignation letter was accepted promptly by the President, signaling a significant blow to his political career.

Internal UNN sources disclosed that Mrs. Nnebedum held a private meeting with Mr. Nnaji in Abuja prior to issuing the contentious letter—a move deemed “unethical and highly irregular” by university insiders. The Vice-Chancellor’s office later issued a contradictory official letter affirming that Mr. Nnaji did not graduate from the university, thereby undermining the Registrar’s earlier claims.

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When questioned, Mrs. Nnebedum initially asserted that the letter was written on her behalf, though she had personally confirmed the authenticity of the credentials in earlier communications. UNN management described Mrs. Nnebedum’s actions as serious administrative misconduct and a breach of institutional ethics, citing the damage caused to the university’s reputation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, has publicly distanced himself from the controversy, emphasizing the university’s commitment to privacy and stating that no academic records would be disclosed without the graduate’s explicit consent. He condemned attempts by media and political actors to drag the university administration into the scandal.

The unfolding saga highlights persistent challenges in credential verification processes within Nigerian institutions and raises questions about the efficacy of vetting procedures for public office holders.

UNN’s disciplinary action against its Registrar is ongoing, with expectations that further sanctions may be imposed pending the outcome of investigations. Mr. Nnaji, meanwhile, is contesting the allegations in court, maintaining his innocence and describing the accusations as politically motivated.

This incident serves as a cautionary tale on the critical need for transparency and integrity in the authentication of academic qualifications for public servants, underscoring the reputational risks to educational institutions caught in such controversies.