Christabel George-Didia admits her Bachelor’s degree from Kwame Nkrumah University was from a fake institution, raising alarm over public service vetting
Fake university degree scandal has emerged following the revelation by Christabel George-Didia, a nominee for the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, who confessed that her academic certificate was obtained from a fake institution.
Speaking before the Rivers State House of Assembly, George-Didia admitted that her supposed Bachelor’s degree from the so-called Kwame Nkrumah University was not valid.
She explained that she later found out the university was not accredited and had been operating fraudulently. Her statement has caused shock among lawmakers and raised fresh concerns about the screening process for public service positions.
According to her, she was unaware at the time of admission that the institution was illegitimate. “I discovered too late that the certificate I got was from a fraudulent university. I was misled,” she told the Assembly panel during the confirmation hearing.
The incident has drawn attention to the growing menace of unaccredited universities targeting unsuspecting Nigerians seeking higher education qualifications.
It also casts doubt on the credibility of academic vetting processes used to screen nominees for government appointments. Some members of the Assembly have now called for a broader investigation into other public officers who may have presented questionable qualifications.
The case is likely to intensify calls for stricter oversight by the National Universities Commission and other educational regulators. George-Didia’s admission could set a precedent, as this may be one of the few occasions a nominee openly acknowledges holding a forged or invalid degree during a vetting process.
As the matter continues to stir public debate, there are rising expectations that the House of Assembly and relevant authorities will act decisively. Voters and civil society groups have called for the nomination to be withdrawn and further legal scrutiny applied to similar cases.
The fallout from this scandal may well influence future confirmations in Rivers State, where education and integrity remain key requirements for public office.
