BLACKLISTED BENIN UNIVERSITIES ALLEGEDLY COLLABORATING WITH NIGERIAN POLYTECHNICS TO SMUGGLE GRADUATES INTO NYSC

Read Time:4 Minute, 23 Second

Agency Report

An investigation by Saturday PUNCH has uncovered how some blacklisted universities in the Republic of Benin are allegedly collaborating with certain private polytechnics in Nigeria to secretly mobilise their graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Findings revealed that these foreign universities, banned from recognition by Nigeria’s Ministry of Education, now obtain Higher National Diploma (HND) and National Diploma (ND) certificates for their graduates through private polytechnics, which then facilitate their NYSC enrolment.

According to the report, affected students are made to pay around ₦400,000 to obtain the fake HND certificates, which are then used to process mobilisation into the NYSC scheme. Many of the implicated polytechnics are said to be located in South-West and South-East Nigeria.

In 2024, the Federal Government suspended the evaluation and accreditation of degree certificates from Benin Republic and Togo, after an undercover investigation by Daily Nigerian exposed a Cotonou-based university that issued a degree within six weeks, allowing the reporter to participate in NYSC.

The suspension affected over 45 institutions, prompting some of them to seek illicit ways to enable their Nigerian graduates to serve.

A graduate of Esfam-Benin University in Porto Novo, identified as Seun, said that his academic records had already been forwarded to a Nigerian private polytechnic for HND processing.

He disclosed that two of his classmates had already been mobilised for NYSC through the same arrangement.
“Others have completed their processing and are waiting for NYSC mobilisation. I know of two ladies from our school who are already serving now,” he said.

Seun added that he was asked to pay ₦120,000 for a “special centre” to retake his O’Level exam, which would qualify him for admission into the polytechnic system.
“Basically, once one has money, you can get a Benin Republic certificate, take it to a Nigerian polytechnic, and get a new certificate that allows you to go for NYSC,” he said.

Another graduate confirmed that a senior official at his Benin university linked them to a Nigerian polytechnic after the ban.
“He told us that even though our university certificates were no longer valid, he could help us through a private polytechnic in Nigeria. We were to pay some money, and we would get ND and HND certificates from that school,” the graduate said.

He also alleged that they were directed to a Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office in Ikoyi, Lagos, where an insider provided a registration PIN for the process.

A third graduate, Isa, said he obtained his HND certificate from a private polytechnic in Abia State, confirming that his name had already been submitted for NYSC mobilisation.
“This is not a scam, it’s working. We’ll be going with the next batch,” Isa said.

A senior university administrator in Porto Novo, who claimed to have withdrawn from the operation, confirmed that several blacklisted institutions were in partnership with Nigerian polytechnics.

He explained that once students presented their Benin Republic degree certificates, the collaborating polytechnics would include their names in the senate list, a key NYSC mobilisation document.
“The students pay a certain amount, and the polytechnics request transcripts from us before issuing ND and HND certificates to the graduates,” he said.

He added that since the Nigerian government’s ban, “all schools in Benin are doing the same thing,” noting that some institutions in Togo had already paid a hefty reinstatement fee to regain accreditation, unlike those in Benin.

A Nigerian woman, Wunmi, confirmed paying ₦500,000 to secure her brother’s NYSC slot through a private polytechnic in Ekiti State.
“They assured me there was nothing to worry about because many graduates had already gone through the same process,” she said.

A document obtained by newsmen reportedly contained the names, fake matriculation numbers, and fabricated grades of two Benin graduates who had been added to a private polytechnic’s NYSC mobilisation list.

When contacted, Esfam-Benin University official, Femi Simon, denied any involvement in the fraudulent practice, insisting that the institution had no partnership with any Nigerian school.
He said, “We are waiting for the Nigerian government’s decision on Benin and Togo universities. We have never mobilised our students through another institution.”

The NYSC also denied awareness of the scheme. Acting Director of Press and Public Relations, Carol Embu, said,
“We are not aware of this. Foreign graduates are cleared by the Ministry of Education.”

Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Education spokesperson, Folashade Omoboriowo, dismissed the claims, stating that the registration system for NYSC had been fully digitalised to prevent such manipulation.
“In fact, we created and modified a portal for data capturing for NYSC mobilisation. Such fraud cannot take place,” she said.

She also quoted the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), who challenged anyone with proof of the alleged fraud to come forward for investigation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Usman Tunga, National Chairman of the Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria, said he was unaware of any such collaboration, adding that any confirmed case would be reported to the NBTE for sanction.

He said, “If such an act is happening, it has not come to my knowledge. But if detected, we will report to the appropriate authorities for action.”