The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has announced the closure of 22 illegal Colleges of Education discovered during a nationwide clampdown on unaccredited and unregulated institutions.
According to the Commission, the move became necessary after investigations revealed that the affected colleges had been operating without proper licensing, offering unapproved academic programmes, and issuing certificates not recognised by law.
Education stakeholders have repeatedly warned that such practices not only exploit unsuspecting students and parents but also weaken the integrity of Nigeria’s higher education system.
In a statement, the NCCE disclosed that the action was part of a larger reform strategy aimed at sanitising the teacher education sector.
The Commission noted that, beyond shutting down the illegal schools, it had embarked on a comprehensive personnel audit and financial monitoring exercise in all 21 federal Colleges of Education.
The exercise, it explained, was designed to strengthen accountability, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and improve the quality of teacher training nationwide.
The crackdown is consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent directive to educational regulatory agencies to step up their oversight of tertiary institutions.
At the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), held in Abuja, the President expressed concern over the proliferation of what he described as “certificate millers” – illegal operators issuing fraudulent qualifications.
Represented at the event by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Rakiya Ilyasu, President Tinubu ordered the National Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the NCCE to take decisive action against institutions undermining the nation’s education sector.
Tinubu emphasised that his administration would not allow the academic system to be compromised.
He reiterated that the government is committed to restoring the credibility of higher education by eliminating fake institutions and ensuring that every certificate issued in Nigeria meets internationally accepted standards.
“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 stated.
He further assured that education-related agencies, including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the NUC, the NBTE, and the NCCE, are already working in alignment to tackle the menace of forgery, certificate racketeering, and unrecognised institutions.
According to him, the synergy among these bodies will help safeguard the future of Nigerian students while restoring public confidence in the system.
Education experts have welcomed the development, noting that the clampdown on illegal institutions sends a strong message that the government is serious about reform.
They argue that unless decisive steps are taken, many unsuspecting Nigerians will continue to fall victim to unaccredited schools that charge huge fees but issue certificates that hold no legal or professional value.
The closure of the 22 illegal Colleges of Education is expected to be the first in a series of regulatory actions aimed at sanitising the education sector.
The NCCE has assured that further investigations are ongoing and warned operators of unapproved institutions to shut down voluntarily or face prosecution.
By this action, the government seeks not only to protect students but also to safeguard the reputation of Nigeria’s education system both locally and globally.