Nigerian Government to Enforce Nationwide Verification of Academic Credentials from October 6, 2025

In a circular dated August 8, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the government mandated all public and private organisations, including civilian and military institutions, to adopt a structured verification process for both existing and prospective staff.

• Mandatory Verification: All academic qualifications must be authenticated through NCVS before any appointment or employment is confirmed.
• National Credential Number (NCN): Every verified credential will receive a unique NCN with security codes for record-keeping and tracking.
• Digital Traceability: Certificates, diplomas, and awards must originate from accredited institutions and be digitally identifiable and traceable.
• Quality Assurance: This policy replaces the outdated practice of relying solely on individual institutions for verification, embedding a secure, national framework protected from compromise.

The enforcement of this policy derives its authority from Section 10(1) of the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985. NERD has been assigned as the implementing agency, with oversight and enforcement power to ensure full compliance.

The initiative, initially proposed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) in May 2023, was subsequently approved by the Federal Executive Council, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Nigeria’s educational

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According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who unveiled the NCVS in March 2025, the scheme is designed as a systemic safeguard to address multiple challenges facing Nigeria’s education sector. These include:

• Eliminating fake degrees and falsified academic qualifications.
• Improving national security by ensuring only qualified professionals occupy sensitive positions.
• Enhancing Nigeria’s global competitiveness by aligning with international best practices in credential verification.
• Creating a unified, digital platform for higher education data consistency across decentralised systems.

This digital approach is expected to boost transparency, protect the credibility of Nigerian degrees, and promote confidence among local and international stakeholders.

NERD’s Executive Director of Communication and Cybersecurity, Haula Galadima, confirmed that the infrastructure for nationwide deployment is fully operational. She encouraged MDAs, post-secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and private organisations to enrol their NERD Focal Persons and Digitisation Officers via the agency’s official website.

NERD functions as Nigeria’s federal standard for higher education digitisation and hosts several critical national identifiers, including:

• National School Number (NSN)
• National Credential Number (NCN)
• National Document Number

These identifiers will enable instant verification of genuine academic and professional honours, making it harder for fraudulent documents to pass through unnoticed.

Galadima further explained that NERD operates as a one-stop national repository designed to ensure data consistency, coordinate decentralised systems, and maintain institutional autonomy. This innovative approach will allow seamless integration between universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and regulatory bodies, thereby streamlining the verification process nationwide.

The NERD Governing Council is chaired by the Minister of Education and includes leadership from:

• The National Universities Commission (NUC)
• The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
• The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE)
• The National Library
• The Nigeria Data Protection Commission
• Committees of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts across the country

This broad-based representation ensures that all key players in Nigeria’s education ecosystem contribute to the policy’s success.

With the October 2025 enforcement date fast approaching, organisations across Nigeria—both public and private—must prepare to comply with the new requirements. Key implications include:

• No employment, promotion, or confirmation of appointment will be valid without NCVS clearance.
• Institutions must digitise their records to integrate with NERD’s systems.
• Prospective employees and students should ensure that their credentials are from accredited and verifiable institutions.

Failure to comply with this directive may result in penalties, delayed appointments, or invalidation of employment processes.

The Nigerian Government’s move to enforce academic credential verification nationwide marks a major milestone in the fight against academic fraud and in safeguarding the quality of education in the country. By centralising verification under the NCVS, Nigeria is positioning itself as a regional leader in educational transparency and digital governance.

For employers, employees, and students alike, the message is clear: academic qualifications must now be authentic, accredited, and verifiable. This reform is expected to restore confidence in Nigeria’s educational system, protect national security, and boost the country’s standing in the global academic and professional community.