…the NCCE disclosed that the illegal institutions were uncovered during an intensive nationwide enforcement exercise.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education discovered to be operating without government approval across Nigeria.
The crackdown, officials said, is part of a renewed effort to safeguard the quality and integrity of Nigeria’s education system, which has come under increasing threat from unaccredited institutions described by authorities as “certificate mills.”
Announcing the development, the NCCE disclosed that the illegal institutions were uncovered during an intensive nationwide enforcement exercise. In addition to shutting them down, the Commission also carried out personnel audits and financial monitoring in all 21 federal Colleges of Education to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
“The NCCE identified and shut down 22 illegal Colleges of Education operating across the country,” the Commission said in a statement. “The operation is in line with our mandate to regulate teacher education in Nigeria and protect unsuspecting students from falling victim to fake institutions.”
The action comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu directed the NCCE, the National Universities Commission (NUC), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to intensify efforts against illegal higher institutions in the country.
Speaking at the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, the President, represented by the Director of University Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, condemned the activities of unapproved institutions, stressing that they pose a serious danger to the credibility of Nigeria’s education sector.
Tinubu described such illegal schools as “certificate millers” whose operations must be stamped out to restore confidence in the country’s academic system.
“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 declared.
He further explained that education regulatory bodies including the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), NUC, NBTE, and NCCE are already working in alignment to tackle issues of forgery and curb the spread of unrecognised institutions, both within and outside Nigeria.
Stakeholders say the proliferation of illegal higher institutions has led to the production of unqualified graduates, many of whom end up struggling to secure employment or further academic opportunities.
By targeting Colleges of Education, which are responsible for training future teachers, the government hopes to block a dangerous cycle that could weaken Nigeria’s basic and secondary school education system.
Education experts note that many of the illegal colleges lure unsuspecting students with cheap tuition, non-existent accreditation claims, and promises of quick certificates. Unfortunately, graduates of such institutions often discover that their qualifications are worthless, leaving them unable to proceed for the mandatory NYSC service or pursue higher studies.
The clampdown is also seen as part of the Tinubu administration’s broader agenda to reform Nigeria’s struggling education sector. By enhancing coordination among education agencies, the government aims to ensure stricter regulation, improve teacher training, and safeguard the reputation of Nigerian certificates both locally and internationally.
For the NCCE, the closure of the 22 illegal colleges marks a bold step but also signals the need for sustained vigilance. Officials said the Commission will continue its nationwide monitoring to identify and sanction any other unapproved institutions still in operation.
Authorities also appealed to parents and students to verify the accreditation status of any institution before seeking admission. “Members of the public are strongly advised to always cross-check institutions with the appropriate regulatory agencies. Ignorance is not an excuse when it comes to education fraud,” an NCCE spokesperson warned.
With the crackdown, the federal government has sent a strong signal that it will no longer tolerate the operation of fake institutions that compromise the future of Nigerian students.
Analysts say sustained enforcement, coupled with stronger collaboration between regulatory bodies, will be key to achieving lasting reforms. For now, the closure of the illegal colleges has been widely welcomed as a step in the right direction, though many insist the government must go further by prosecuting the proprietors of such schools.
