Minister Nnaji Resigns after University Of Nigeria Disowns His Degree Certificate

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, following some allegations against him. He resigned on Tuesday in a letter thanking the President for allowing him to serve Nigeria, reports TVC.

Nnaji said he has been a target of blackmail by political opponents. President Tinubu thanked him for his service and wished him well in future endeavours.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted the resignation of Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, amid forgery allegations levelled against him.

Nnaji, who was appointed by President Tinubu in August 2023, tendered his resignation in a letter on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve the country.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In his letter, the former minister claimed he had been the target of blackmail by political opponents, which influenced his decision to step down.

President Tinubu, in response, thanked Nnaji for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours.

On Saturday, a report stated that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), had formally disowned the Bachelor of Science degree certificate being paraded by Nnaji.

The UNN said Nnaji never graduated from the institution and was never issued such a document.

The development brought new weight to allegations that had dogged Nnaji since July 2023, when he was named among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by President Tinubu.

At the time, critics argued that his academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials were fake, insisting that he had not completed his studies at the Nsukka-based university.