The Federal Ministry of Education has debunked viral claims that the National Universities Commission identified 2,000 universities and uncovered about 100 fake professors in Nigeria.
The ministry described the reports as false and misleading, insisting that the NUC never made such declarations or authenticated the list of individuals being circulated online as fake professors.
In a statement on Saturday, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the commission had neither declared the existence of 2,000 universities in the country nor published, endorsed or verified the purported list of fake professors.
“The NUC has never declared the existence of 2,000 universities in Nigeria or published, endorsed or authenticated the purported list of individuals circulating online as fake professors,” the minister stated.
The ministry explained that the claim about fake professors was a distorted version of a media report published on December 3, 2019, concerning an NUC exercise to verify the directory of full professors in Nigerian universities.
According to the ministry, the original report did not contain the names currently circulating on social media, adding that the commission had since disowned the list.
It expressed concern over the continued circulation of the claims, warning that the misinformation could undermine public confidence in Nigerian universities and discredit efforts to improve the education sector.
The ministry urged members of the public, media organisations and social media users to disregard the reports and verify information about recognised universities and academic standards through the NUC’s official channels.
It reaffirmed its commitment to working with the commission to safeguard academic integrity, strengthen quality assurance and protect the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university education system.
The statement was signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, and dated November 14, 2026.
