The Federal Government (FG) has announced a mandatory verification of all academic credentials across the country, beginning from October 6, 2025, using a digital platform designed to instantly authenticate educational qualifications and curb the menace of fake degrees.
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The nationwide enforcement of the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) policy differs from the traditional verification methods by using a centralised digital system that promises to detect fraudulent certificates “at the click of a button,” according to government officials.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, issued the directive through a circular dated August 8, mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and higher institutions to implement structured verification of academic credentials for current and prospective staff through the National Credential Verification Service (NCVS).
“No appointment would be confirmed without an NCVS clearance affirming the authenticity of academic qualifications presented,” Akume declared in the circular made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.
The comprehensive policy covers all institutions in Nigeria, whether civilian, military, private or public, requiring them to obtain instant NCVS clearance before confirming any appointment. Each clearance will carry a unique National Credential Number (NCN) and security codes for permanent record-keeping.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who introduced the NCVS in March following Federal Executive Council approval, described the initiative as “a systemic quality assurance check to curtail academic fraud, fake degrees and bogus honours.” The system was originally proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023.
The new approach is a departure from previous practices where institutions were responsible for verifying their own credentials. Akume stated that the reform “entrenches a national quality assurance mechanism insulated from compromise,” ensuring that every certificate, diploma, or award presented in Nigeria must be earned from accredited institutions and remain fully traceable.
Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity for the NERD programme, Haula Galadima, confirmed the system’s readiness for nationwide deployment, urging all relevant organisations to register their NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers through the agency’s website.
“NERD is a federation initiative and the federal standard for higher education digitisation, designed to protect national security and prestige, ensure education integrity, and digitally enhance the economic value of Nigeria’s education for global competitiveness,” Galadima explained.
The system’s mandate extends beyond credential verification to include administration of the National Student Number (NSN), National Credential Number (NCN), and National Document Number (NDN). It also maintains a National Database of Resource Persons for instant verification of legitimate academic honours.
According to Galadima, the federal government has established “the nation’s official one-stop shop for data consistency” while maintaining institutional autonomy. “Each system remains autonomous. NERD facilitates organic cooperation and coordination of decentralised systems in the national interest,” she noted.
The NERD Governing Council, chaired by the Minister of Education, brings together leadership from key educational bodies, including the NUC, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), National Library, Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), and committees representing vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts nationwide.
The policy draws its legal authority from Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act, 1985, positioning NERD as the central enforcement mechanism for academic credential integrity across Nigeria’s educational landscape.
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