President Bola Tinubu has directed relevant education regulatory bodies to intensify efforts in clamping down on illegal tertiary institutions operating across Nigeria.

Speaking at the 14th convocation of the National Open University of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday, the President ordered the National Universities Commission, the National Board for Technical Education, and other agencies to take decisive action against what he described as “certificate millers” undermining the credibility of the education sector.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, warned that the integrity of the academic system must not be compromised.

“At this juncture, it has become imperative to reiterate that this administration remains committed to strengthening the integration of all agencies involved in the administration of education to enhance efficiency and quality,” the President said.

He added, “The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) are working in alignment to improve the quality of education and ensure that cases of forgery and unrecognised institutions both within and outside the country have no place in our education ecosystem.

“I therefore charge the heads of these agencies to remain steadfast in upholding government’s resolution to safeguard our education sector from quack and fake institutions as the integrity of our academic system must not be compromised and that the activities of certificate millers are checked and put to a stop permanently.”

At the convocation, 51 inmates from correctional centres across the country graduated from NOUN, including 41 undergraduates and 10 postgraduates.

The event also featured the conferment of honorary degrees on the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen.

Tinubu further tasked NOUN to lead the country’s transition into a digitally skilled economy, urging the university to embrace full online learning in line with its Open and Distance Learning model.